“We’re in Talks With Dangote to Process 500,000 Tonnes of Ghana’s Cocoa Locally” –Ato Forson Reveals

According to a report by GHOne TV on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has disclosed that Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote is discussing a proposal to process 500,000 metric tonnes of Ghanaian cocoa locally.

The minister revealed the approach after presenting the 2027 Budget to Parliament, saying Dangote had contacted him and President John Dramani Mahama about using Ghana as a processing base. Discussions are ongoing, and no contract has been signed.

Dr Forson said the proposal could help expand domestic processing and retain more income from a commodity long exported largely as raw beans. He confirmed that the terms were being examined and that Dangote was interested in formalising an agreement.

The talks come as the government seeks to change Ghana’s cocoa industry. Targets outlined in the 2027 Budget call for at least 50 per cent of cocoa to be processed locally by 2028, rising to 100 per cent by 2030.

A new Cocoa Board Act before Parliament is expected to support the policy, while a legislative instrument will establish the timetable. The ambition extends beyond grinding beans to producing higher-value goods, including cocoa liquor, butter, cake, powder, chocolate and cosmetics.

Ghana is a major cocoa producer, but much of the value created after harvesting has traditionally gone to processors overseas. Expanding domestic facilities could create industrial opportunities, strengthen local supply chains and support employment. However, the proposed 500,000-tonne volume should not be treated as an agreed annual processing target.

The 2027 Budget puts Ghana’s 2025/26 cocoa production at 771,000 metric tonnes as of August 2026. The proposed volume would be substantial if it represented yearly throughput, although the minister has not clarified that point.

Key details remain unresolved, including the facility’s location, required investment and implementation schedule. The Dangote Group has not publicly confirmed the proposal.

Dangote expressed readiness to come to Ghana, but neither side announced any timetable for the project to begin. The discussions indicate potential investor interest in Ghana’s value-addition strategy. However, the project’s eventual impact will depend on the contract’s terms, financing and the country’s ability to supply processors consistently.

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Mathews feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com