The European Union is pushing for deeper investment partnerships with Ghanaian agribusinesses, arguing that the country must move beyond raw commodity exports to capture greater value through processing, storage, and stronger distribution networks.
Speaking at the EU-Ghana Agri Business Exhibition in Accra on Wednesday, EU Ambassador to Ghana Rune Skinnebach said the opportunity ahead lies not merely in producing more, but in extracting more value from what Ghana already produces. The two-day forum, organised by EuroCham Ghana under the theme “Where Europe Meets Ghana,” brought together more than 400 Ghanaian and European businesses, investors, and policymakers for structured matchmaking and market-access discussions .
“The opportunity ahead is not only to produce more, but to capture more value from what Ghana produces,” Skinnebach told participants, identifying cold-chain infrastructure, packaging, branding, and processing as critical investment areas capable of creating opportunities for farmers, processors, exporters, women entrepreneurs, and young people .
The EU is seeking to mobilise investment and expertise through its Global Gateway Strategy and Team Europe approach, with European companies offering agricultural machinery, processing technology, financing, and access to distribution networks while Ghanaian businesses contribute local market knowledge .
EPA Anniversary and Market Access
Skinnebach pointed to the Economic Partnership Agreement between Ghana and the EU, which marks its tenth anniversary this year, as a platform for expanding agricultural trade. The interim EPA, signed on 28 July 2016 and provisionally applied from 15 December 2016, grants eligible Ghanaian products duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market .
Trade between the EU and Ghana has grown substantially under the arrangement. Total EU-Ghana trade reached €19 billion in 2024, a 73 percent increase since 2016, with Ghana among the top suppliers of cocoa and cocoa products to the bloc . Ghana’s agrifood exports to the EU jumped 68.7 percent in 2025 to €2.91 billion, though cocoa and cocoa preparations accounted for more than 90 percent of that total—underscoring the concentration risk that value-addition efforts aim to address .
However, Skinnebach stressed that businesses must meet European requirements on food safety, quality, and traceability to realise the benefits. “The agreement is not simply about exporting more to Europe. It’s about building a more competitive agribusiness sector here in Ghana,” he said .
The ambassador acknowledged that market access alone would not deliver results, citing access to finance, reliable infrastructure, and predictable regulations as necessary conditions for investment. He urged businesses to use the exhibition to establish lasting commercial partnerships and turn opportunities into concrete projects .
Compliance Pressures Mount
The push for deeper agribusiness ties comes as Ghanaian exporters face tightening European regulatory requirements. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) takes effect on 30 December 2026 for large and medium-sized operators, requiring proof that commodities including cocoa, coffee, rubber, and palm oil are deforestation-free and legally produced . Ghana’s cocoa sector, which accounts for approximately 95 percent of the export value of commodities covered by the regulation, has been working to align national traceability systems with EU requirements .
Additional rules on packaging waste and forced labour will impose further compliance burdens on exporters seeking to maintain access to the European market .
Ghana’s Domestic Agenda
For Ghana, the priority is translating stronger EU ties into domestic processing capacity, competitive exports, and more resilient food supply chains. The government has set a target of processing 50 percent of cocoa locally, supported by structured supply arrangements through the Ghana Cocoa Board, and has implemented policy reforms including a ban on raw rubber lump exports to secure supply for domestic processors .
Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi told a separate investment summit earlier this year that Ghana offers a stable political environment, efficient port facilities, and a young, English-speaking workforce, positioning the country as a competitive hub for agribusiness investment .
The EU-Ghana Agri Business Exhibition, funded by the European Union with support from the Netherlands and France, featured exhibitors from Belgium, France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom, alongside Ghanaian SMEs and exporters . Organisers designed the forum as a deal-making environment with pre-scheduled B2B meetings, direct access to European buyers, and product demonstrations, aiming to generate commercial connections that extend beyond the two-day event .
Background
Ghana’s agribusiness sector remains heavily oriented toward raw commodity exports, with cocoa dominating. The EU is West Africa’s largest trading partner, and West Africa is the EU’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with total trade between the regions reaching €64 billion in 2024 . The EU’s Global Gateway Strategy seeks to counter competing infrastructure and investment initiatives by mobilising European capital and expertise for sustainable projects in partner countries. For Ghana, the challenge lies in converting preferential market access into industrial capacity and jobs—a goal that requires addressing persistent gaps in cold storage, processing infrastructure, and access to affordable finance for small and medium-sized agribusinesses.
