Ghana Statistical Service releases first-ever data on informal cross-border trade

For the first time in Ghana’s history, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has released comprehensive data on informal cross-border trade between Ghana and its neighboring countries — Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.

According to Dr. Iddrisu Alhassan, Government Statistician, the groundbreaking exercise provides unprecedented insight into trade activities that occur outside formal systems.

He noted that traditionally, official trade statistics have only captured data from formal trade channels.

To bridge this gap, Dr. Alhassan revealed that the GSS recruited and deployed about 900 field staff across 321 border points to collect data on informal trade along Ghana’s frontiers with the three countries.

According to the findings, formal trade between Ghana and its neighbors amounts to about US$7.9 billion, while informal trade accounts for approximately US$7.4 billion.

“This shows that the volume of informal trade is nearly equal to that of formal trade,” the official explained.

“If we hadn’t undertaken this exercise, we wouldn’t have known the true extent of informal trading activities taking place across our borders.”

The new data also reveal the types of goods exported and imported informally, as well as Ghana’s trade balance with each neighboring country.

The analysis shows that Ghana is a net exporter to Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, but a net importer from Togo.

Beyond trade values, the study provides useful socioeconomic insights, identifying who engages in informal trading — both men and women — and shedding light on employment and livelihoods within the informal sector.

The data, according to GSS, will play a crucial role in policy planning and national statistics, particularly as Ghana undertakes a GDP rebasing exercise.

“Now that we have reliable data on informal trade, we can use it to inform decisions at every level and reflect a truer picture of the extent of economic activities taking place in the country,” the statement noted.

GSS also emphasized that the findings will help support the formalization of informal trade, working in collaboration with customs authorities and government partners across the subregion.

“Without data, such formalization cannot happen. Now that we have it, we can sit with customs officials to explore how to improve trade infrastructure, registration, and support for informal traders,” the Service added.

Addressing concerns about cost, the GSS described the initiative as a worthwhile investment.

“We had to spend money to collect the data, but for every dollar spent on producing statistics, research by the UN shows that the returns can be as high as $32. We are confident that the benefits of this work will far outweigh the cost.”

This pioneering effort not only fills a major data gap in Ghana’s trade statistics but also strengthens the country’s capacity to make evidence-based decisions that promote inclusive economic growth and regional trade integration.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith