Former Ghana president, John Agyekum Kufuor will deliver a keynote address on the future of Africa’s cocoa industry at a major investment forum in London next week.
He is expected to outline a long-term vision for the sector at the inaugural Africa Cocoa Finance and Investment Forum, which opens at the London Stock Exchange on 6 May.
The event will bring together investors, policymakers and industry leaders to examine how to unlock growth across Africa’s cocoa value chain.
Organisers say Mr Kufuor’s speech will reflect on the industry’s past while setting out priorities for the decades ahead. A former cocoa farmer, he is expected to argue that the crop can play a bigger role in industrialisation, regional trade and economic development if more value is added within Africa.
During his time in office from 2001 to 2008, Ghana’s cocoa production more than doubled, rising from about 300,000 tonnes to around 750,000 tonnes within three years. The increase followed the introduction of mass spraying programmes and subsidised fertiliser support for farmers.
His government also encouraged local processing, attracting major international and domestic firms and helping lay the groundwork for Ghana’s modern cocoa industry. Those reforms contributed to the country reaching a record harvest of one million tonnes in the 2010 to 2011 season.
The forum will also host panel discussions on how to expand investment, improve competitiveness and increase value addition across the sector.
Speakers include Olasunkanmi Owoyemi of Sunbeth Global Concepts and Alex Assanvo of the Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative.
A separate session will explore opportunities beyond raw cocoa, including chocolate manufacturing and new industrial uses. Contributors include Patricia Poku-Diaby and Vishnu Kakra.
Meanwhile, Michel Arrion of the International Cocoa Organization is expected to present plans for an African Cocoa Exchange, aimed at improving price transparency and strengthening the continent’s position in global markets.
The event is the first of what organisers say will become a regular platform to connect investors with opportunities in Africa’s cocoa economy and to drive policy and industry collaboration.
Source: metrotvonline.com
