The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, together with the Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has met cocoa processors and other key industry players as part of government’s ongoing consultations 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.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare emphasized government’s commitment to moving Ghana beyond the export of raw cocoa beans, stressing the importance of local processing 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 said. She noted that strengthening domestic processing would boost industrial output, expand export earnings, and contribute to a more resilient economy.
She explained that the reforms are expected to enhance 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 added, underscoring the importance of engaging industry players to address challenges and assess their preparedness for the new reforms.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare described the cocoa sector as a major pillar of Ghana’s economy, citing its long-standing contribution to national development and foreign exchange earnings. She assured stakeholders that government’s reform agenda would be comprehensive and stakeholder-driven.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson 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 requiring government support 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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