PR & COMMS UPDATES – MOTAI
Sampson Ahi, the Deputy Minister for Trade, agricultural, and Industry, has advocated for more private sector investment in Ghana’s tree crop industry, calling it one of the continent’s most attractive agricultural prospects.
Speaking at the inaugural Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit & Exhibition (GTCIS-2026), Hon. Ahi encouraged investors to capitalise on the industry’s shift from a traditional exporter of raw materials to a value-driven industrial powerhouse.
He underlined that exporting raw output is no longer the only purpose of Ghana’s tree crop industry, which includes cocoa, rubber, cashew, shea, oil palm, and coconut. Value addition, industrial growth, and gaining a larger portion of the more than $300 billion global processed commodities market are its main objectives instead.
Although Ghana already makes billions from the sale of tree crops, Hon. Ahi pointed out that increasing local processing capacity is the real opportunity.
In order to guarantee a sufficient local supply for processors, he emphasised drastic governmental changes that would de-risk private sector investments, such as prohibiting the export of raw rubber lumps.
Additionally, he cited the government’s goal of 50% local cocoa processing, which is supported by organised supply agreements made through the Ghana Cocoa Board. He claims that these actions increase the bankability and commercial viability of processing endeavours.
The Deputy Minister also mentioned the government’s “Feed the Industry” initiative, which uses out-grower programs and cooperatives to combine the output of nearly two million farmers.
For premium markets in Europe and North America, this system guarantees traceability, sustainability compliance, and dependable supply.
In addition to the availability of raw materials, Hon. Ahi emphasised that Ghana provides young, English-speaking workers, a robust legal system, effective port infrastructure, and political stability.
Investors have strategic access to a 1.3 billion-person continental market because to Ghana’s hosting of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
He gave investors his word that the Ministry’s agriculture division is prepared to expedite permits, make land acquisition easier, link investors with farmer cooperatives, and assist with financing negotiations, enabling projects to go from agreement to groundbreaking in as little as six months.
Financial institution representatives at a presentation on “unlocking finance for the Tree crop sector” promised to assist investment in the tree crop business with the goals of improving competitiveness, easing financing restrictions, and lessening the financial strain on farmers, among other things.
Source: newsthemegh.com