The impact of trade policies and infrastructure on the export performance of Ghanaian manufacturing firms is significant. Ghana's economy has traditionally relied on exporting primary commodities, but recent initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aim to enhance local manufacturing capacity and increase intra-African trade.

The AfCFTA, launched in January 2021, seeks to eliminate tariffs on a majority of goods, thereby providing Ghanaian manufacturers with broader access to regional markets. This could help local firms scale up production and export more processed and light-manufactured products, increasing competitiveness against imported goods​