Accra, June 10, GNA – The Catalyst Harvest Fund (CHF), a blended finance investment vehicle targeting Ghana’s agricultural and agribusiness sectors, has inaugurated its Board of Directors to guide the implementation of its planned US$100 million investment programme.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the offices of New Africa Impact Capital (NAIC), co-sponsors of the Fund, at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
The Fund is designed to provide growth capital to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating within selected tree crop value chains, including cashew, coconut, oil palm, mango, shea and rubber.
It will focus on investments in agro-processing, cold chain logistics and agricultural inputs, while supporting businesses adopting climate-smart and circular economy models.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Prince Obeng, Chairman of the newly constituted Board, described the event as a significant milestone for both the Fund and Ghana’s agricultural financing landscape.
“The inauguration of this Board of Directors is a clear statement of intent. We have assembled a group of extraordinary individuals who bring the expertise, knowledge, credibility and vision needed to guide the Catalyst Harvest Fund toward its goals,” he said.
Mr Obeng noted that the selected tree crop value chains offered substantial economic development opportunities for Ghana and the wider West African sub-region.
The Board comprises Professor Daniel Bruce-Sarpong, an Agricultural Economist and Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Ghana; Mr Isaac Antwi, former Corporate Affairs Director of Coca-Cola Ghana; Mr Jan Cherim, Vice Chairman for Europe and Africa at SEAF; and Mr Foster Gomashie, Director of Tradeline Limited.
A representative of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), a technical partner to the Fund, will also serve on the Board.
Earlier this year, the Fund appointed SEAF, a United States and Netherlands-incorporated global investment management firm, as its fund manager.
SEAF has more than three decades of experience investing in small and growing businesses across emerging and frontier markets.
The Catalyst Harvest Fund is co-sponsored by Tradeline Consult Limited, an agribusiness advisory firm with operations across Ghana and other African countries.
Structured as a permanent investment vehicle, the Fund is seeking to raise an initial 100 million US dollars, with a first close target of 25 million dollars.
The promoters also plan a second fundraising round of up to 400 million dollars after three years to expand the model across sub-Saharan Africa.
The Fund will deploy capital through a four-tier blended finance structure aimed at attracting development finance institutions, local financial institutions, pension funds and environmental, social and governance (ESG)-focused private investors.
Its development objectives include creating more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, integrating smallholder farmers into formal supply chains and ensuring that at least 40 per cent of beneficiaries are women, in line with the global 2X Challenge initiative.
GNA
George Agboklu
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