Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a handshake with President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has called for renewed Japanese investment in Ghana’s cocoa sector, proposing a public-private partnership (PPP) with the cocoa processing company to revamp its facilities and deepen value addition.
The appeal was made during a high-level meeting with Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Ghana–Japan cooperation.
In a tweet sighted by GhanaWeb Business, President Mahama said; “I met with the Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to advance Ghana–Japan cooperation in three key areas: Cocoa and value addition, Strategic infrastructure and People-to-people ties.”
He added, “With Ghana supplying about 70% of Japan’s cocoa imports, we invited Japanese investment and a PPP with the Cocoa Processing Company to revamp the plant and deepen processing in Ghana.”
Ghana supplies nearly 70% of Japan’s cocoa imports, yet, much of it is exported in raw form.
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The call on Japan to support local processing initiatives would help in the creation of jobs, boost exports of finished goods, and enhance Ghana’s position in the global cocoa value chain.
The meeting also focused on strategic infrastructure, particularly the Volivo Bridge over the Volta Lake.
This bridge will be a critical transport link for moving agricultural produce such as yams and maize from northern Ghana to southern markets.
Japan reaffirmed its readiness to work with government on infrastructure and to expedite solutions to funding gaps.
Read President Mahama’s tweet below;
I met with the Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to advance Ghana–Japan cooperation in three key areas: Cocoa and value addition, Strategic infrastructure and People-to-people ties.
With Ghana supplying about 70% of Japan’s cocoa imports, we invited Japanese investment and a PPP… pic.twitter.com/4YtrzEgCGx
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) August 21, 2025
SA/EB
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