Cabinet has directed that at least 50% of Ghana’s cocoa beans be processed locally beginning with the 2026–2027 crop season, marking a major policy shift aimed at deepening value addition within the sector.
Addressing the press on Thursday, February 12, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced that the directive will be captured in the proposed COCOBOD Bill to be laid before Parliament.
He explained that the decision forms part of broader reforms to restructure the cocoa industry and strengthen its contribution to the national economy.
As an immediate step, Dr Forson disclosed that the remainder of the cocoa beans for the 2025–2026 crop year will be allocated for domestic processing. The move, he said, is intended to boost local industrial activity while preparing the ground for the 50% processing threshold set for the next crop season.
The Minister further revealed that the state-owned Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) will be revived as a matter of urgency to position it as a leading processor of Ghana’s cocoa. Revitalising CPC, he noted, is central to achieving the new domestic processing target.
“I have also this morning, together with my colleague, the Minister responsible for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, met with domestic cocoa processors cutting across the private sector, who have indicated that they have the capacity and the willingness to process more than 50% of Ghana’s cocoa beans going forward,” he added.
Key reforms announced by Ato Forson to stabilise Ghana’s Cocoa sector