The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, together with the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has met with cocoa processors and key stakeholders in the cocoa sector to discuss the government’s planned reforms and strategies to boost local processing and industrial growth.
The maiden engagement, held at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in Accra on Thursday, February 12, focused on strengthening domestic cocoa processing, expanding value addition, and improving economic returns from one of Ghana’s most critical export commodities.
In her opening remarks, Ofosu-Adjare emphasised the government’s commitment to moving Ghana beyond the export of raw cocoa beans. She stated:
“We are serious about value addition, the creation of jobs, and ensuring that farmers get better value for their wealth. It is our bid to add value to our raw materials and create jobs for the youth.”
The Trade Minister explained that enhancing local processing capacity would not only increase industrial output but also expand export earnings and contribute to a more resilient economy.
She added that the government’s planned reforms are expected to improve the performance of the cocoa sector and support broader economic stability, including efforts to strengthen the cedi.
“These reforms will make the economy stronger and also strengthen the cedi. That is why we are engaging industry players in the cocoa sector to see how best we can address their challenges and also find out about their preparedness for the new reforms,” she said.
Ofosu-Adjare highlighted the cocoa sector’s historical significance to Ghana’s economy, noting its substantial contribution to national development and foreign exchange earnings.
She emphasised that the reform programme would be comprehensive and stakeholder-driven.
“Government is going to roll out a comprehensive reform programme for the cocoa sector. The sector has done so well in the Ghanaian economy, and we believe everyone will be happy to embrace the new direction,” she added.
Finance Minister Dr Forson also reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting policies that promote value addition, industrial growth, and economic transformation, particularly in key export sectors such as cocoa.
