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Ghana will no longer be content with exporting raw materials but processed goods to international markets – Agric Minister

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has said that Ghana will no longer be content with exporting raw materials to the international market, rather add value to its raw materials for export.

He said this during the maiden edition of the Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition with the theme; Sustainable Growth Through Tree Crops Investment: Resetting and Building Ghana’s Green Economy at Accra International Conference Centre, Accra.

Given his speech at the summit he underscored Ghana’s agriculture transformation shifting decisively from conversation to execution, “today marks a decisive shift in Ghana’s agricultural transformation. Not merely a shift in conversation, but a shift in execution”.

He reiterated that as a minister his mandate is to ensure that vision of Tree Crops translates into practical results on farms, in processing facilities, and in export markets.

He acknowledged the private sector for sustaining tree crop sub-sector over the years, yet without adequate coordination or regulatory structure, though production grew, yet value addition remained limited, standards were jagged, and the sector lacked the coherence required to attract large-scale investment.

Bridging this gap, through the Tree Crops Development Authority, he said the ministry is building an ecosystem fastened in reliable planting materials, strengthened extension delivery, improved productivity, traceability systems, processing expansion and enforceable
regulatory standards.

It is therefore the duty of the government to provide a conducive atmosphere within which all actors can confidently discharge their duties.

According to him, the future of the tree crop sector lies firmly in value addition. “Cashew must be processed locally before export. Shea must move beyond raw nut export into refined butter and cosmetic-grade derivatives. Coconut must expand into oil, fibre, beverages and industrial inputs. Rubber must feed downstream manufacturing, and mango must scale into export-grade processed products. Oil palm must deepen into integrated agro-industrial development”, he listed.

To achieve this, he explained the Ministry is facilitating access to suitable land banks in ecologically appropriate zones, strengthening extension services tailored specifically to tree crop agronomy, promoting nucleus-outgrower schemes that guarantee consistent raw material supply to processors, and aligning regulatory institutions such as the Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority with international export requirements.

To women and the youth, Minister mentioned that women are predominant actors in the shea butter industry that serves as the major economic support of their livelihoods in the rural communities, therefore, the idea of the ministry is to link the women-led businesses to processing, export and value addition opportunities.

He called on the investors to take the opportunity of the stable democratic governance with structured opportunities to invest in relation to expansion in processing capacity across multiple crops.

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FDA warns against use of cement in preserving beans

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned the public against the use of cement or any unapproved substances in the preservation of beans, following a viral video circulating on social media suggesting the practice.

In a press release issued on February 16, 2026, the authority stated that the video, which appears to show beans being preserved with a white powdery substance believed to be concrete cement, does not reflect approved agricultural or food preservation practices in Ghana.

According to the FDA, the method portrayed in the footage is not recognised or endorsed by the Plant Protection and Regulation Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

A review of the video, the authority noted, indicates that the language spoken is not Ghanaian.

A translation of the narration reportedly reveals unsafe and unhygienic handling procedures, including the application of chemicals with bare hands and the absence of protective clothing.

The footage also depicts an individual standing directly on a heap of beans without any protective gear.

The FDA stressed that the use of cement for food preservation is not permitted under Ghana’s food safety regulations.

“The FDA, together with its stakeholder institutions, does not approve of food preservation practices that compromise food safety and public health,” the statement emphasised.

It further condemned the use of unapproved substances, poor hygiene practices, and direct hand contact with food without protective wear, describing them as violations of acceptable food safety standards.

The authority assured the public that such practices are not encouraged in Ghana and advised farm produce aggregators and retailers to refrain from engaging in or promoting unsafe preservation methods.

Consumers have been urged to report any suspicious food handling or preservation practices to the FDA for investigation and possible sanctions.

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Ghana-Spain deepening Agribusiness Ties as GB Foods calls on Trade Minister, Unveils 6,000-Acres Tomato Project

The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting large-scale local raw material production following high-level discussions with the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Angel Lossada Torres-Quevedo, the CEO of GB Foods Africa, Vicenç Bosch, the Director, Institutional Affairs & Agribusiness, Africa of GB Foods Dr. J. Teddy Ngu and other officials from the Spanish Embassy.

The meeting, held at the Ministry in Accra on Monday, 16th February, 2026, focused on strengthening Ghana–Spain cooperation in agribusiness, particularly in tomato cultivation and processing, as part of efforts to enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports.

Ambassador Lossada Torres-Quevedo described GB Foods Africa as “one of the most important and reliable agro-business companies” with extensive experience across Africa. He noted that the company’s investments not only benefit its operations but also generate significant socio-economic returns for local populations.

“We are launching important work together regarding the agro-business industry,” the Ambassador stated, underlining the company’s long-standing track record and commitment to sustainable partnerships.

CEO Vicenç Bosch used the opportunity to reaffirm the company’s long-term commitment to Ghana, where its flagship brand, Gino, has become a household name.

“For us, this is about developing the industry where we operate. It is not about importing; it is about building local capacity,” he said.

Mr. Bosch disclosed that GB Foods Africa has secured 6,000 acres of land in the Afram Plains for tomato cultivation more than three times the size of its existing farm in Nigeria, currently one of the largest tomato farms in the region. The company has been piloting tomato farming and processing in Ghana over the past two years, with harvesting expected in the coming weeks.

According to him, initial results are promising. While average tomato yields per acre in parts of Central Africa range between five and ten tonnes—compared to about 180 tonnes in China and 140 tonnes in Spain—GB Foods has improved yields to between 60 and 70 tonnes per acre in Nigeria. In Ghana, the first-year pilot achieved 20 tonnes per acre, with projections to double to 40 tonnes in the second year.

However, he acknowledged the competitiveness challenge posed by low-cost tomato imports and called for supportive policy measures, including quota arrangements similar to those implemented in countries such as Senegal and Nigeria, to enable local production to scale sustainably over a five-to-seven-year period.

“We have left all our pieces and now we are waiting for cooperation to make the next move,” he noted, stressing the need for a collaborative policy framework that would benefit the entire industry.

Responding to the company’s proposals, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare welcomed the investment and described it as aligned with government’s broader agenda to strengthen agribusiness and ensure food security under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.

She emphasized that local production of raw materials is central to Ghana’s industrialisation strategy.

“If you have the industry here but your raw material is somewhere you do not control, when there is a problem there, you suffer,” she stated. “We are committed to ensuring that raw materials are produced in Ghana so that food security can be assured.”

The Trade Minister commended GB Foods Africa for its high production standards and expanding product range, including the local production of shito, a popular Ghanaian condiment.

She further assured the delegation that government would continue ongoing discussions to explore policy options that would facilitate the company’s expansion while ensuring returns on investment.

“It is easy to import. But when you invest in this country, it means you have come to scale. Government also has to perform its side of the bargain,” she said.

Highlighting the importance of tomatoes in Ghanaian cuisine and the broader agricultural value chain, the Minister encouraged the company to share technical expertise with local farmers to boost productivity and quality across the sector.

The meeting signals renewed momentum in Ghana–Spain economic cooperation and positions agribusiness, particularly tomato cultivation and processing, as a strategic pillar for industrial growth, job creation and enhanced food security.

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Agric Minister commissions cold storage facility and groundbreaking of poultry value addition and processing project.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has commissioned the ultra-modern Beacon’s cold storage expansion project at Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

The project not merely physical structure is a strategic investment in Ghana’s food security architecture and concrete expressions of confidence in the future of Ghana’s poultry industry.

According to the Minister, the project aligns directly with Government’s flagship Feed Ghana Programme, a comprehensive framework for transforming Ghana’s agriculture and food systems.

Under this Programme he said livestock development occupies a central place, with poultry identified as the most immediate and high-impact opportunity for import substitution, job creation, and agro-industrial growth.

“For many years, Ghana has depended heavily on imported poultry products, with an annual import bill estimated between US$300 million and US$400 million. This situation is neither economically sustainable nor consistent with our national development aspirations. The time has come to rebuild domestic capacity across the entire poultry value chain — from hatchery to feed production, from farm to processing, and from cold storage to market,” he said.

To rebuild the domestic capacity across the entire poultry value chain, he explained the government launched the Poultry Industry Revitalization sub-programme under the Feed Ghana Programme and this intervention addresses the structural bottlenecks that have impelled the sector. Thus, high feed costs, weak value-chain coordination, limited access to quality day-old chicks, inadequate veterinary support, and critically, insufficient processing and cold chain infrastructure.

He mentioned that there are three model for revitalizing the sector; a Poultry-Farm-to-Table model that supports large-scale commercial farms, small and medium-scale poultry producers to improve productivity and competitiveness and lastly Nkoko Nketenkete Backyard Poultry
Programme, to expand household and community-level production, with particular emphasis on women, youth, and vulnerable households.

He expressed that increase production without processing and cold chain capacity is vague, therefore, Beacon’s cold storage expansion project is timely to enhance Ghana’s capacity to preserve quality, reduce post-harvest losses, stabilise supply, and ensure food safety standards.

He commended Beacon Source and Services Ltd. and Bostex Trading GmbH for the vision, commitment, and strategic alignment with the Feed Ghana Programme to advancing a national agenda that seeks for food security, job creation, industrial growth, and economic resilience.

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Randy Abbey rejects Minority’s call for his removal

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey, has dismissed calls by the Minority caucus for his removal over recent reforms in the cocoa sector, insisting that the challenges facing the industry stem from decisions taken by the previous administration.

The Minority has criticised ongoing reforms, including the reduction in the cocoa producer price, arguing that the measures shortchange farmers and worsen their plight. The caucus has consequently demanded Dr. Abbey’s removal from office.

Responding to the claims on Thursday, February 12, 2026, Dr. Abbey said the current funding model for cocoa purchases was not introduced by his administration but inherited.

“The model that we are using today is not a model that I created. It is a model that we inherited, which was used in the 2024/2025 season,” he stated.

He explained that the long-standing syndicated loan model, which had financed cocoa purchases for 32 years, collapsed during the 2023/2024 season under the previous government.

“For the first time in the history of the loan, the first tranche hit the COCOBOD account on December 22. COCOBOD had defaulted on its loans and, under the DDEP, asked for the deferment of the debt and a haircut, among others. That is how the syndicated loan collapsed, and that is how this funding model came up with the buyers,” he said.

Dr. Abbey maintained that upon assuming office, his team assessed the inherited system and determined it was unsustainable.

“We came in and we realised that this model was not sustainable. We therefore needed a new model, and that is what we were working towards,” he added.

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‘Why not cut COCOBOD staff salaries too?’ — Nana Aduna II questions fairness of cocoa price reduction

The spokesperson of the Ghana Farmers Association, Nana Aduna II, has criticised recent developments in the cocoa sector, arguing that farmers are unfairly bearing the brunt of policy decisions.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show, Nana Aduna II questioned why cocoa farmers appear to be the only group affected, especially at a time when many have reportedly gone unpaid for months.

“The question we would like to ask is, why are only farmers taking the hit?” he said. “When you look at the trajectory of our cocoa system, there’s the farmer, the haulage system, licensed buying companies, and COCOBOD. That’s before the beans are even exported. So why is the farmer alone taking the hit?”

He maintained that if cost-cutting measures were necessary, they should have been applied across the value chain — beginning with administrative expenditure, staff salaries and government margins — rather than reducing farmers’ earnings.

“The first step should have been to reduce the salaries of staff and the margins that the government makes by the same amount,” he stated. “If COCOBOD staff were also affected, it would create a fairer system and a level playing field for farmers.”

Nana Aduna II further expressed concern about the weakening of farmer groups over the years, which he said has undermined their capacity for collective bargaining and effective resistance.

“Farmer groups have been made poor and weakened over time. There is very limited collective bargaining. So how do we fight back? What tools do we have? Do we just put our hands behind our backs?” he asked.

He emphasised the importance of understanding the historical trajectory of Ghana’s cocoa industry to fully appreciate the persistent inequities faced by farmers, despite their central role in the sector.

His remarks follow the government’s announcement of a new farmgate cocoa price of GH₵41,392 per tonne for the 2025–2026 season, equivalent to GH₵2,587 per bag.

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Land guards take over Tuba irrigation farm as farmers protest

Over 300 farmers operating under the Weija Irrigation Project at Tuba in the Greater Accra Region have staged protests over what they describe as the unlawful takeover of their farmlands by land guards, following the alleged sale of the land to a private estate developer.

The farmers claim that officials at the Lands Commission unlawfully transferred the Tuba irrigation lands for commercial development, a move that has exposed them to harassment and intimidation by armed land guards.

According to the farmers, the Government of Ghana acquired about 13,000 acres of land in 1974 for the Weija Dam project. In 1983, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) earmarked approximately 8,000 acres of this land for irrigation farming.

However, they allege that in 2013, over 90 percent of the land was returned to the original landowners through an Executive Instrument, leaving only about six percent for farming activities.

Some farmers told the media that land guards have chased them off their farms with weapons, creating fear and insecurity in the area.

They warned that more than 300 farmers risk losing their livelihoods if the situation is not urgently resolved.

The aggrieved farmers are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to intervene.

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Farmers willing to accept new Cocoa Producer Price – Francis Teinor

The President of the Mankrong Cocoa Cooperative Farmers’ Association,Francis Teinor has urged cocoa farmers to accept the newly announced producer price of GH¢41,392 per tonne, describing the current period as “bad times” for the sector.

Speaking to Eyewitness News on Thursday, February 12, he acknowledged the challenges posed by delayed payments but expressed cautious optimism about the government’s proposed financial policies.

“Looking at the policies that the Finance Minister has brought, one of them is that we wanted to go for bonds and not syndicated loans. When you take bonds, it takes 10 to 20 years, so it means the money will always be in the account for us whenever cocoa is ready,” he said.

He emphasised that farmers are willing to accept the current price but warned that continued delays in future payments could erode trust in the system.

“Farmers are accepting that, but what we do not want to hear next year is that we go and sell cocoa and face the same delays. If that happens again, we are going to lose trust,” he noted.

He also highlighted the importance of government compliance with the Finance Minister’s directives, including adding value to at least 50% of locally produced cocoa before export.

“Currently, we have nothing to complain about because of prevailing world market prices, so we are telling all our farmers that we are in bad times and need to accept the current price and pray that the government will follow the guidelines,” he said.

The government announced the new producer price for cocoa for the remainder of the 2025–2026 crop season in a move aimed at stabilising the sector and supporting farmers. The Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) approved the new rate, which takes effect from Thursday, February 12, translating to GH¢2,587 per bag.

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Indonesia, Nigeria and Ecuador on standby to replace Ghana as world’s second-largest cocoa producer

Ghana’s prolonged production slump and financial strain in its cocoa sector are increasingly raising the prospect that the West African nation could lose its long-held position as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.

  • Ghana, historically the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, faces declining production and concerns about maintaining its position.
  • Key issues include COCOBOD’s financial challenges and aging plantations, exacerbated by climate change and diseases.
  • Global competition grows as Ecuador, Indonesia, and Nigeria expand cocoa production with improved yields and strategic initiatives.
  • Efforts to address these challenges include governmental reforms and international agreements aiming to stabilize and sustain cocoa farming.

This week, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama convened an emergency Cabinet meeting to tackle growing challenges in the cocoa sector, including delayed payments to farmers, liquidity issues at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and sharply declining harvests.

For decades, Ghana has ranked just behind Côte d’Ivoire, Africa’s top producer, and has held the position of the world’s second-largest cocoa supplier.

The crop supports more than 800,000 farming households and remains a vital source of foreign exchange for the country.

Output has dropped sharply in recent seasons. In June 2025, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the government agency responsible for regulating the country’s cocoa sector and supporting farmers, signalled that Ghana would likely miss its production target for the 2024/2025 season.

After lowering its forecast from 650,000 tonnes to 617,500 tonnes in December 2024, the regulator said harvests would likely not exceed 600,000 tonnes.

“I don’t think that much will change, looking at the time we have to end the crop season,” COCOBOD Managing Director Randy Abbey said on June 10, 2025, noting that 590,000 tonnes had already been collected with three months remaining.

More recently, addressing a press conference at Cocoa House in Accra on Friday, February 6, 2026, Abbey revealed that although COCOBOD has sold more than 530,000 tonnes of cocoa for the current season, about 50,000 tonnes remain unsold and still with farmers.

He attributed the situation to Ghana’s non-competitive farmgate price, which has made it difficult for buyers to absorb the excess cocoa.

“The situation is where we have beans, but they are not buying; the beans are too expensive,” Abbey said. He assured that efforts are underway to address delayed payments.

Consequently, the projected harvest is well below Ghana’s historical average of 800,000 tonnes and far from the more than 1 million tonnes recorded during the 2020/2021 bumper season.

COCOBOD cited aging plantations, the spread of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease, illegal gold mining known locally as galamsey, smuggling, and climate-related weather disruptions as the main factors behind the decline.

Meanwhile, rival producers are steadily expanding, positioning themselves to challenge Ghana’s long-held global ranking.

Ecuador is leading the charge in South America, projected to produce more than 650,000 tonnes in the 2025/2026 season, with expectations of reaching 800,000 tonnes by the end of the decade.

Ecuadorian yields average about 800 kilograms per hectare, compared with less than 500 kilograms per hectare in West Africa, and farmers receive roughly 90% of the world market price, well above the 60–70% earned by farmers in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Across Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the world’s third-largest cocoa producer, is also on the rise. The country, which primarily cultivates Forastero beans with some Trinitario varieties, recorded 641,741 tonnes in 2023 and dominates the region’s cocoa market.

Exports reached $47 million that year, and global supply forecasts suggest Indonesian output could grow by roughly 30% to around 836,000 tonnes by 2026.

This growth is supported by government programs and private initiatives such as Cocoa Life, which aim to improve fermentation consistency and overall farm yields.

In West Africa, Nigeria, currently ranked fourth globally, has likewise signalled ambitions to increase production.

The country aims to raise output from about 340,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes, targeting roughly 6.5% of global supply.

While year-round irrigation and state support could boost production, structural challenges remain. Even so, Nigeria could still emerge as a credible contender to challenge Ghana’s position as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.

As of February 12, 2026, cocoa futures have corrected from the historic peaks of 2024 but remain elevated, trading around the mid‑$3,700s per tonne, according to global ICE cocoa futures prices.

In response to ongoing volatility, a United Nations Cocoa Conference on February 13, 2026, will inaugurate the new International Cocoa Agreement, aiming to promote sustainability and ensure price stability across the sector.

Ghana’s ability to maintain its second-place ranking will hinge on domestic reforms and how quickly it responds to rising competition from Ecuador, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

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Ministry of Finance and Trade Engage Cocoa Processors on New Value-Addition Reforms

The Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare have met cocoa processors and other key stakeholders in the cocoa sector as part of government’s ongoing engagements with strategic sectors of the economy.

The maiden meeting, held at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in Accra on Thursday, February 12, 2026, focused on government’s planned reforms in the cocoa sector and the readiness of local processors to expand value addition and domestic processing.

The engagement formed part of consultations aimed at ensuring that Ghana derives greater value from its cocoa resources through increased local processing, job creation and stronger industrial growth.

In her opening remarks, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare said government was committed to moving Ghana beyond the export of raw cocoa beans and ensuring that more of the commodity is processed locally to create jobs and improve incomes across the value chain.

“We are serious about value addition, the creation of jobs, and ensuring that farmers get better value for their wealth,” she stated. “It is our bid to add value to our raw materials and create jobs for the youth.”

She explained that strengthening domestic processing would boost industrial output, expand export earnings and contribute to a more resilient economy.

According to the Trade Minister, 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,” she said. “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.”

Hon. Ofosu-Adjare described the cocoa sector as a major pillar of Ghana’s economy, noting its long-standing contribution to national development and foreign exchange earnings.

She indicated that government’s reform agenda would be comprehensive and stakeholder-driven, adding that consultations with industry players were essential to ensure that the measures introduced address key challenges while improving efficiency and competitiveness.

“Government is going to roll out a comprehensive reform program 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.

The Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, also reiterated government’s commitment to supporting policies that promote value addition, industrial growth and economic transformation, particularly within key export sectors such as cocoa.

Participants at the meeting included representatives of cocoa processing companies and other industry stakeholders, who shared perspectives on operational issues, capacity needs and areas where government support would be required to enable local processors to scale up.

The engagement is expected to inform government’s final policy direction as it prepares to implement reforms aimed at modernizing the cocoa sector, deepening local value addition and strengthening Ghana’s industrial base.

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