The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is working with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness to set up small-scale cocoa processing plants in cocoa-growing communities, aiming to refine beans before export.
At the AGI’s National Council Retreat, leaders stressed the urgency of boosting local value addition in the cocoa sector. “We are engaging Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare to establish cocoa processing plants to refine our beans before exporting,” the association stated.
AGI argues that local refining will let Ghana capture more value in the supply chain, generate jobs in farming areas, and cut raw bean exports. Processing into semi-finished and finished products would also bolster the industrial base and increase foreign exchange earnings.
The group called for tighter collaboration with the ministry to craft supportive policies and draw investment into processing infrastructure.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotorfmonline.com