President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has expressed interest in using Ghana as a cocoa-processing hub. According to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Dangote has approached Ghana's government with a plan to process 500,000 metric tonnes of cocoa locally. The Finance Minister disclosed this information after presenting the 2027 budget in Parliament on Thursday, November 12.
The government's 2027 budget outlines a commitment to transitioning Ghana from an import-dependent economy to a production-driven economy. This transition will be anchored in local manufacturing, industrialisation, and value addition, underpinned by eight interconnected strategic pillars. The programme aims to promote private-sector-led job creation and is expected to mobilise at least US$13 billion between 2027 and 2030.
The eight pillars of the programme include macroeconomic stability and affordable finance, commercial agriculture, energy infrastructure, critical minerals value addition, tourism, culture and creative arts, textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, and the technology economy. Dr Forson explained that these pillars are interconnected, with the growth of one sector supporting the others.
The government plans to focus on making tourism, culture, and the creative arts more profitable by creating business opportunities, jobs, and generating foreign exchange from Ghana's cultural heritage and creative talents. Additionally, the government aims to increase local production, create more jobs, and help Ghanaian businesses and workers access international fashion markets in the textiles and garments sector.
Dr Forson highlighted the importance of building local capacity in pharmaceuticals and biomanufacturing. He stated that Ghana must produce more medicines and vaccines to strengthen health security and supply markets across Africa. The technology sector is also expected to create jobs and bring in foreign exchange, with better internet access and digital connections allowing skilled Ghanaians to participate in the economy.
The government will focus on keeping the economy stable, providing key infrastructure, preparing projects that can attract investment, and creating a business-friendly environment. The private sector will drive investment, innovation, and production while creating jobs that can be sustained over time. Dr Forson assured that government support will be transparent, time-bound, and linked to verifiable results.
Dr Forson urged Ghanaians to support the government's vision for the country's economic future, arguing that the recovery presents an opportunity to make long-term investments rather than repeat past mistakes. He called on Ghanaians to make a defining national choice about the future they want to build, rather than simply spending the recovery as though history has taught them nothing.
Key points
- Dangote Group plans to process 500,000 tonnes of cocoa in Ghana.
- The Ghanaian government's 2027 budget outlines a commitment to transitioning the country to a production-driven economy.
- The programme aims to mobilise at least US$13 billion between 2027 and 2030.
