Ato Forson says Dangote is considering Ghana as a cocoa-processing hub

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ato Forson, says discussions are under way with the Dangote Group about processing cocoa in Ghana. He told an interviewer that the company wants to sign a contract, but stressed that the terms are still being examined and no agreement has been signed. The minister was responding to questions about Ghana’s goal of processing more of its cocoa at home. The targets discussed are to process 50 per cent of locally produced cocoa by 2028 and reach full local processing by 2030. Forson argued that Ghana should earn more from its crop by doing more than exporting raw beans for others to turn into finished goods. He said a recent trip to Bangkok, where he attended the World Bank and IMF annual meetings, gave him a fresh reminder of the range of cocoa products sold internationally. In his view, companies should be welcome to buy Ghanaian beans, provided they also add value within the country. Forson said a new Cocoa Board Act before Parliament includes a requirement for local processing. He added that a legislative instrument would set out the timetable for moving from the 50 per cent target to full processing by 2030. The cocoa proposal is part of a wider push to modernise agriculture and cut reliance on imported food, according to the minister. He cited annual food imports of about US$3.5 billion and questioned why Ghana still imports products such as palm oil, sugar, rice and poultry despite its resources and workforce. He also pointed to opportunities to expand maize and soybean production for animal feed, alongside vegetable farming. Forson’s message was that Ghana needs to modernise its agricultural sector and keep more of the value from its produce at home.