Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming Ghana’s cocoa industry from exporting raw beans to building a full cocoa economy that empowers farmers and creates decent jobs.
Speaking at the EU Sustainable Cocoa Initiative held in Brussels on the final day of the Global Gateway Forum, the Vice President said Ghana was determined to move beyond being a supplier of raw cocoa to becoming a strong player in global value chains.
She called on the European Union and development partners to channel greater investment into Ghana’s cocoa value chain to support local processing, sustainability, and fair trade.
“Ghana is clear about moving beyond the export of raw cocoa beans to building a cocoa economy that empowers farmers and creates jobs,” she said. “We need partnerships that ensure investment in our cocoa sector for the benefit of the people who make this industry possible—the farmers.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang explained that Ghana’s vision was about creating a system that rewards hard work, supports value addition, and ensures that the benefits of the industry reach farmers and communities. She said this shift requires collaboration between producing countries, investors, and consumer markets.
The Vice President described the move towards processing more cocoa locally as both “a legitimate aspiration and a strategic imperative.” She noted that true economic strength lies higher up the value chain, where jobs are created, industrial capacity grows, and national sovereignty is protected.
She said the government had already laid a strong foundation for this transformation through incentives under the Free Zones and Investment Promotion frameworks, which have expanded Ghana’s cocoa processing capacity to about half a million tonnes. With improved logistics, reliable energy, and a more supportive business environment, the government aims to increase processing volumes even further.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the greatest economic and social gains would come when Ghana and other cocoa-producing countries manufacture finished products such as chocolate and cocoa-based beverages. She added that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides a unique opportunity to build regional value chains that retain more wealth within Africa.
However, she pointed out that access to affordable financing remains one of the biggest challenges for local processors, especially small and medium enterprises. “Local private processors face high capital costs while commercial banks remain cautious due to their exposure to the cocoa sector,” she said.
She called for the introduction of blended financing models that combine long-term investment with affordable working capital, risk-sharing mechanisms, and technical support for rural processors.
On sustainability, the Vice President noted that Ghana is adopting digital traceability systems to promote transparency, combat child labour, and build consumer confidence in the country’s cocoa. She said the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) continues to ensure fair access to beans for both local processors and exporters, while maintaining quality and ethical production standards.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
