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Industry and Trade
GHANA’S FOOD
PROCESSING SECTOR
The food processing industry plays a major role in
Ghana’s economy. Major food crops in Ghana gen-
erally consist of cereals and starchy foods. Cereals
include maize, rice, millet, guinea corn and sorghum,
while starchy crops include cassava, yam, cocoyam
(taro) and plantain. Currently, food processing in
Ghana is done by medium-scale enterprises.
Over the years, the Government of Ghana has im-
plemented policies that add value to Ghana’s raw
agricultural products (e.g. cocoa, cotton, oil palm,
etc). In recent times, intensive efforts have been
made by government to process some of these prod-
ucts; for example, volume of cocoa beans processed
locally has doubled in the last decade.
In addition, there is the establishment of a special ini-
tiative for oil palm and cassava processing. The pur-
pose is to expand and add value to non-traditional
exports and to diversify the economy, create employ-
ment and improve local livelihoods.
The main processed food products are from:
• Cocoa
• Maize
• Rice
• Oil palm
• Groundnut
• Cassava
• Soybean
• Nuts
The Market
Generally, exports of processed and prepared foods
have seen major growth in the last two years. To-
tal exports of prepared foods (excluding processed
cocoa products and processed tubers/cereals)
amounted to USD$5,379,641.10 in 2009. The export
figure represented a significant increase over the
export figure recorded in the previous year. Total ex-
ports of prepared foods (excluding processed cocoa
products and processed tubers/cereals) amounted
to USD$1,807,693.02 in 2008.
Investment Opportunities
Production
Investment opportunities exist for producers and
processing companies in the following areas:
• Companies to process maize, yams, cassava, oil
palm, citrus, mango, cashew, coconut, cowpea
and traditional vegetables e.g. tomatoes, pepper
• Production of value-added cocoa and coffee
products
• Production of improved seeds and agro-chemicals
(fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides)
• Processing of dairy products
• Production of inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides,
and fungicides
Raw Materials
• Processors and manufacturers to supply
packaging materials
• Producers to supply planting materials
• Production of horticultural products for processing
(e.g. maize, yams, cassava, oil palm, citrus,
mango, cashew, coconut, cowpea and traditional
vegetables e.g. tomatoes, pepper etc.) for
national, regional and • European Union (E.U)
markets
• Development of private irrigation facilities
Technological and Supporting Services
• Processing machine manufacturers to supply cold
chain equipment
• Companies to provide installation of cold chain
equipment
• Companies to train manufacturers in packaging
and packaging technology
• Companies to train producers in the use of food
processing technology
• Machine manufacturers to establish hatcheries for
day-old chicks
• Processing machine manufacturers to supply
processing plants
• Suppliers and financiers of factory building
technology
Marketing and Distribution
• Companies to provide post-production services
(transport, packaging, cold vans)
• Companies to provide distribution of improved
seeds, planting materials and agro-chemicals
(fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides)
• Companies to market processed foods in
international markets
Investment Incentives
Incentives to the sector may apply under the
following provisions:
• There is custom duty exemption for agricultural
and industrial plant, machinery and equipment
imported for investment purposes.
• Listed companies enjoy corporate tax of 25% and
newly listed companies enjoy 25% corporate tax