The government plans to partner with private sector stakeholders and investors to develop over 10,000 hectares of cocoa, a strategy intended to enhance supply and reinforce Ghana’s standing in the international cocoa market.
Dr. Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, revealed that this initiative will not only boost production but also stimulate economic growth by ensuring that value is added to cocoa products.
During a press conference in anticipation of the April 11 launch of the Feed Ghana Project, he emphasized that the government will play a supervisory role to ensure that the collaboration maximizes benefits, including job creation, increased exports, and a more competitive cocoa sector.
“We are engaging investors who will collaborate with Ghanaians to cultivate 10,000 hectares of cocoa. They have committed to establishing processing facilities to add value before exporting. We are actively working with the private sector on both production and marketing,” he stated.
Ghana’s cocoa industry, a key component of the agricultural sector, has experienced a significant downturn, contracting by -21.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024. This represents the sixth consecutive quarterly decline, following sharp contractions of -26% in both the second and third quarters.
The minister also introduced further measures aimed at fostering growth in the agricultural sector. He noted that these initiatives are essential for enhancing Ghana’s agri-business landscape, improving productivity, and making the sector more appealing to investors.
“In the short term, we have engaged in discussions with several tomato processing facilities in Tema to connect them with farmers, ensuring a ready market by deploying mini processing plants to farmers in rural areas,” he added.
