Gov’t Advances Cocoa Value Addition Drive as Processing Capacity Hits 500,000 Tonnes
Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has unveiled new government measures aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on raw commodity exports by accelerating value addition in key sectors, notably cocoa.
Speaking at the European Union Sustainable Cocoa Initiative in Brussels, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the administration’s policy shift is designed to expand domestic cocoa processing, boost job creation and strengthen Ghana’s position in global trade negotiations.
She disclosed that government incentives have helped raise the nation’s cocoa processing capacity to about 500,000 tonnes, a milestone that underscores efforts to capture more value locally in one of Ghana’s most important export industries.
“Our shared challenge now is to move beyond trade based on commodity dependence towards a partnership built on value addition, sustainability and fairness. For Ghana, processing more of our beans at home is both a legitimate aspiration and a strategic imperative,” she said.
The Vice President also called for greater institutional and financial backing for small-scale cocoa processors, particularly in rural areas, to ensure that the benefits of value addition are broadly shared.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after Côte d’Ivoire, exports most of its beans in raw form. The government’s latest initiative reflects a broader push across West Africa to diversify export earnings and reduce exposure to volatile global commodity prices.
