By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Oct. 30, GNA – Africa’s cocoa-producing countries are intensifying efforts to attract private investment, expand domestic processing and increase the value retained from cocoa production, as reforms reshape the continent’s cocoa industry.
A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency said, the Africa Cocoa Finance and Investment Forum (ACFIF), held at 48 Wall Street in New York, brought together senior government officials, financiers, commodity traders, processors, investors and development partners from Africa, Europe and North America to explore investment opportunities across the cocoa value chain.
It said the forum, organised by Cocoa Trade and Invest Africa, focused on innovative financing mechanisms, industrialisation, sustainability and greater private-sector participation, reflecting the growing determination of producing countries to move beyond exporting raw cocoa beans and capture more value from the industry.
Dr Ransford Anertey Abbey, the Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), outlined emerging investment opportunities arising from Ghana’s ongoing cocoa sector reforms.
He identified opportunities in cocoa financing, processing, farm rehabilitation, climate-smart agriculture and value addition, highlighting the launch of Cocoa Capital PLC and a GH¢16.3 billion securities programme designed to attract private capital into the sector.
Dr Abbey said Ghana’s new regulatory framework was creating a more transparent and investor-friendly environment, with incentives to support domestic processing, productivity growth and sustainable expansion across the cocoa value chain.
His presentation generated strong interest among delegates, with discussions focusing on investments in processing facilities, infrastructure, technology and supply-chain development.
Ambassador Aly Touré, the Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to International Commodity Organisations and spokesperson for cocoa-producing countries at the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), in his keynote address, called for stronger partnerships to ensure that cocoa-producing countries benefited more equitably from revenues generated by the global cocoa industry.
Mr Fuad Abubakar Mohammed, Lead Convenor of ACFIF and Director of Cocoa Trade and Invest Africa, said the forum was designed to connect capital with investment opportunities in Africa’s cocoa sector.
He said the level of participation, quality of discussions and interest shown by investors exceeded expectations, demonstrating that the continent’s cocoa industry was increasingly being viewed as an investment destination rather than merely a source of raw commodities.
Mr Mohammed said throughout the forum, participants examined opportunities in cocoa processing, sustainable production, farm rehabilitation, climate-smart agriculture, supply-chain infrastructure, technology and manufacturing.
He said: “Speakers observed that although Africa produced the majority of the world’s cocoa beans, a significant share of the value generated by the global chocolate industry continued to be realised outside producing countries”
“They said governments and industry stakeholders are consequently prioritising domestic processing and industrial development as pathways to economic growth, employment creation and increased value retention within producing countries.”
Mr Mohammed said one of the strongest outcomes of the forum was the growing consensus among participants that investment, rather than aid, would be the primary driver of the next phase of growth in Africa’s cocoa economy.
He said the opportunities were real, reforms were underway and interest in partnerships was increasing, adding that the priority was to translate investor interest into concrete projects that would expand processing capacity, improve productivity, strengthen sustainability and increase value retention in producing countries.
Presentations by investment specialists, market experts and private sector executives focused on identifying commercially viable projects capable of attracting long-term capital into the sector.
Dr Carla Martin, President of the Institute for Cacao and Chocolate Research, provided insights into opportunities in the growing United States specialty cocoa and chocolate market.
Delegates concluded that stronger collaboration among governments, financial institutions, development partners and private sector players would be essential to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s cocoa industry.
The organisers described the New York edition as an important milestone in positioning Africa’s cocoa sector before the global investment community and building momentum towards the next ACFIF, scheduled to take place in Amsterdam in February 2027.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah