The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has announced ongoing engagements with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness to set up small-scale cocoa processing facilities in cocoa-producing communities nationwide, ahead of export.
The move, according to the association, is part of efforts to boost domestic value addition within Ghana’s cocoa industry.
Addressing participants at the association’s National Council Retreat, AGI leaders underscored the importance of local processing as a strategic step toward strengthening the sector.
“We are engaging the Trade Minister [Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare] to have cocoa processing plants to refine our beans before exporting,” AGI stated.
The association explained that refining cocoa beans locally would enable Ghana to retain more value along the supply chain, generate employment in cocoa-growing areas, and minimise the export of raw beans.
It further noted that processing cocoa into semi-finished and finished products prior to export would contribute to strengthening the country’s industrial base and enhancing foreign exchange inflows.
AGI also stressed that stronger collaboration with the Trade Ministry would be crucial in building the appropriate policy framework and attracting investment into cocoa processing infrastructure.
Source: Joy News
