Ghana’s international travel and trade data for July 2025 present a mixed picture, with passenger arrivals declining even as activity at the country’s major ports expanded significantly.

According to the Bank of Ghana’s September 2025 Monetary Policy Report, passenger arrivals at Kotoka International Airport fell by 8.5% year-on-year to 111,631, down from 121,995 in July 2024.

On a month-to-month basis, however, air travel showed a slight recovery, rising by 3.0% compared to June 2025.

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Over the first seven months of 2025, total passenger arrivals, combining both the international airport and land borders, edged down marginally to 722,020, from 724,412 during the same period in 2024.

While the aviation sector experienced a slowdown, international trade at the Tema and Takoradi harbours improved sharply, reflecting stronger import and export activity.

The Bank of Ghana report showed that laden container traffic, covering both inbound and outbound shipments, jumped by 28.9% year-on-year, reaching 75,183 containers in July 2025, compared to 58,330 a year earlier.

Cumulatively, between January and July 2025, total container traffic stood at 497,292, representing a 23.8% increase over the 401,845 recorded in the same period last year.

The data highlights contrasting trends in Ghana’s external sector: a dip in international travel, likely tied to global and domestic economic pressures, offset by robust growth in trade activity through the country’s maritime gateways.

SSD/MA

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