The Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Sampson Ahi, has called on private sector investors to capitalize on Ghana’s evolving tree crop industry, describing it as a premier agribusiness opportunity in Africa.
Speaking at the maiden Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit & Exhibition (GTCIS–2026) on February 19, 2026, Mr. Ahi emphasized that the sector—comprising cocoa, rubber, cashew, shea, oil palm, and coconut—is transitioning from a traditional raw commodity exporter into a value-driven industrial powerhouse aimed at capturing a larger share of the $300 billion global processed commodities market.
Minister Ahi highlighted that while Ghana already earns billions from exports, the most significant growth potential lies in expanding local processing capacity. He pointed to bold policy reforms designed to de-risk private investments, such as the ban on raw rubber lump exports to secure local supply and the government’s target to process 50 percent of cocoa locally through structured supply arrangements with the Ghana Cocoa Board.
These measures, according to the Deputy Minister, are intended to make processing ventures more bankable and commercially viable for domestic and international partners.
To support this industrial shift, the government’s “Feed the Industry” program is currently aggregating production from over two million farmers via cooperatives. This system ensures the traceability and sustainability compliance required by premium markets in Europe and North America.
Mr. Ahi further noted that Ghana’s role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat provides investors with strategic access to a market of 1.3 billion people, bolstered by the nation’s political stability and efficient port infrastructure.
The summit also featured commitments from financial institutions during a session on unlocking finance for the sector, with representatives pledging to ease financing constraints and reduce the financial burden on farmers.
Mr. Ahi assured potential investors that the Ministry’s agribusiness unit is prepared to fast-track permits and facilitate land acquisition, aiming to move projects from initial agreement to groundbreaking within a six-month window.
