Nigerian billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote is in discussions with the Ghanaian government over a proposed arrangement to process 500,000 metric tonnes of cocoa locally, potentially positioning Ghana as a major cocoa-processing hub.
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, disclosed this during an interview on Thursday, November 12, 2026, following the presentation of the country’s 2027 Budget to Parliament.
The proposed partnership reflects Ghana’s growing ambition to strengthen its domestic cocoa industry, increase local value addition and reduce its reliance on exporting raw cocoa beans.
Dangote Explores 500,000-Tonne Cocoa Processing Partnership
According to Dr Forson, Dangote has approached the Ghanaian government with an interest in establishing the country as a centre for local cocoa processing. Discussions are currently ongoing over a proposed arrangement involving 500,000 metric tonnes of cocoa.
The minister explained that the initiative could support Ghana’s efforts to expand its domestic processing capacity while retaining a greater share of the economic benefits generated from its cocoa industry.
“Dangote has reached out to use Ghana as a hub to process cocoa locally,” Dr Forson said.
He further disclosed that negotiations were still underway, with the businessman’s representatives expressing interest in formalising the proposed arrangement.
“We are going through the terms, and they want to sign a contract,” he added.
However, the minister did not confirm that a final agreement had been reached or signed, indicating that the proposal remains subject to ongoing negotiations.
The discussions come as Ghana pursues an ambitious target of processing 50% of its locally produced cocoa by 2028, with plans to increase domestic processing to 100% by 2030.
Ghana Targets 100% Local Cocoa Processing by 2030
Ghana is seeking to move beyond its traditional dependence on exporting raw cocoa beans by encouraging more companies to establish processing facilities within the country.
Dr Forson explained that expanding local processing would enable Ghana to capture more economic value from its cocoa production rather than allowing other countries to benefit from processing and manufacturing finished cocoa products.
He referenced his recent visit to Bangkok for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings, where he observed the range of cocoa-based products available in international markets. The experience, he noted, reinforced the importance of developing Ghana’s local processing industry.
The minister clarified that the government was not seeking to restrict the export or purchase of Ghanaian cocoa beans. Instead, it wants investors and manufacturers to establish processing operations locally.
“We are not saying don’t come and buy our cocoa beans, but if you are a company out there, come and buy our cocoa beans, but add value here in Ghana,” he said.
To advance this objective, Dr Forson disclosed that a proposed new Cocoa Board Act before Parliament includes a mandatory local-processing provision. A separate legislative instrument is expected to outline the implementation timeline for increasing domestic processing from 50% to 100% by 2030.
Beyond the cocoa industry, the initiative forms part of Ghana’s broader agricultural modernisation strategy, which aims to strengthen domestic production and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food.
According to the minister, Ghana spends approximately $3.5 billion annually importing food products, including palm oil, sugar, rice and poultry, despite having opportunities to expand local agricultural production.
“All we need to do is modernise agriculture,” he said.
He also highlighted the potential to increase maize and soybean production to support the poultry industry through locally produced animal feed, alongside expanding vegetable farming.
Dangote Expands Agricultural Investments Across Africa
The proposed Ghana cocoa-processing arrangement adds to Aliko Dangote’s growing investments in agriculture, food processing and fertiliser production across Africa.
Dangote has previously pursued several large-scale agricultural projects aimed at strengthening food production and processing capacity.
In June 2015, Nairametrics reported that Dangote planned to invest $250 million in rice and sugarcane production around the Hadejia River Basin in Jigawa State, Nigeria.
Three years later, in March 2018, he inaugurated a multi-billion-naira rice mill in Jigawa State, with a processing capacity of 16 metric tonnes of paddy rice per hour.
His agricultural investments have also expanded beyond Nigeria.
In August 2025, Dangote signed a $2.5 billion agreement with the Ethiopian government to establish a fertiliser manufacturing plant. Under the proposed ownership structure, Dangote Group was expected to hold a 60% stake, while Ethiopian Investment Holdings would own the remaining 40%.
By May 2026, the planned investment had increased to more than $4 billion, with the expanded project incorporating a gas pipeline, power plant and NPK fertiliser blending facility.
The proposed partnership with Ghana represents another potential expansion of Dangote’s investments across Africa, this time into cocoa processing.
Although negotiations over the 500,000-metric-tonne arrangement are still ongoing, the proposal highlights Ghana’s efforts to attract industrial investment, strengthen its agricultural value chain and increase the economic returns from one of its most important export commodities.
Credit: Nairametrics
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