The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has disclosed that the government is working to ensure that at least 50 per cent of Ghana’s cocoa production is processed locally to increase export earnings and create jobs.

According to her, the move forms part of efforts to reduce Ghana’s dependence on raw cocoa bean exports and encourage the production of finished and semi-finished products.

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Speaking at the opening of the EU-Ghana Agribusiness Exhibition Forum and Trade Mission 2026 on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Ofosu-Adjare said the sharp fall in global cocoa prices had exposed the risks of relying heavily on raw commodity exports.

“When global cocoa prices collapsed from their historic peak of US$10,000 per tonne in early 2025 to approximately US$4,000 by early 2026, it exposed with brutal clarity the vulnerability of an economy that exports raw commodities and leaves their value creation to others,” she said.

She noted that Ghana already has cocoa grinding facilities with a combined installed capacity of more than 500,000 metric tonnes, which could support the government’s plan to increase local processing.

The Minister further revealed that Ghana’s non-traditional exports reached a record US$5 billion in 2025, representing a 30.7 per cent increase over the previous year.

She explained that processed and semi-processed products accounted for US$3.9 billion of the total, recording a growth of 52.78 per cent, with cocoa products such as butter, paste and powder contributing significantly.

Ofosu-Adjare also urged investors to support the local processing of other agricultural products, including cashew, cassava, maize, rice, fruits, vegetables and oil palm, to create more jobs and boost Ghana’s export earnings.

She called on European businesses to invest in processing factories, share technology and establish partnerships with Ghanaian companies rather than focusing solely on purchasing raw materials.

The Minister also disclosed that the government, through the Ministry and the Free Zones Authority, had begun work on an industrial park at Afienya in Tema to attract investors interested in establishing manufacturing businesses.

The EU-Ghana Agribusiness Exhibition Forum and Trade Mission 2026 seeks to strengthen trade relations between Ghana and European countries while creating opportunities for investment, technology transfer and business partnerships.

ANAS/MA

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