Ghana’s ambition to transform its agricultural potential into higher-value exports, stronger manufacturing and sustainable employment has come into sharper focus following the opening of the EU-Ghana Agribusiness Exhibition and Forum 2026 in Accra, where organisers reported 42 exhibitors and more than 650 registered visitors.
The two-day event, which opened on Wednesday, October 28, in Accra, brings together Ghanaian agribusinesses, European companies, investors and policymakers to explore trade opportunities, investment partnerships and ways to strengthen agricultural value chains.
Organised by the European Chamber of Commerce in Ghana (EuroCham Ghana) under the theme “Where Europe Meets Ghana”, the forum seeks to turn business discussions into practical commercial relationships between Ghanaian enterprises and their European counterparts. Its central economic question is how Ghana can move beyond producing agricultural commodities to building competitive industries that process, package and export higher-value products.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, EuroCham Ghana Executive Director Nicolas Gebara disclosed that the event had attracted greater interest than initially anticipated, with the number of exhibitors exceeding the organisers’ original target of 30.
Mr Gebara said nearly 100 Ghanaian companies had applied to exhibit, from which 30 were initially selected, but the final number of exhibitors reached 42. More than 650 visitors had also registered, reflecting significant interest in the commercial opportunities available within the agribusiness sector.
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He said the forum was designed to bring together Ghana’s agricultural potential and Europe’s technology, expertise, financing and access to markets, creating opportunities for Ghanaian producers while allowing European businesses to develop mutually beneficial commercial relationships.
He also emphasised the importance of Ghana’s domestic market, noting that European companies already operating in the country were seeking to improve the quality of agricultural inputs, ingredients and animal feeds available to local businesses.
For Ghana, this presents an opportunity to strengthen the connections between farming, industrial production and international trade. Rather than relying predominantly on the export of raw or minimally processed commodities, local enterprises could capture a greater share of the value generated through processing, packaging, branding and the manufacture of finished products.
The European Union Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Rune Skinnebach, placed value addition at the centre of the discussions, arguing that the opportunity before Ghana was not simply to produce more agricultural commodities but to capture greater value from what it already produces.
He identified processing, storage, cold-chain infrastructure, packaging, branding and stronger connections to regional and international markets as important areas for investment.
According to the Ambassador, European businesses could contribute processing technologies, agricultural machinery, financing and distribution networks, while Ghanaian enterprises brought local expertise, entrepreneurial drive and an understanding of domestic market conditions.
The combination, he suggested, could help develop a more competitive and sustainable agribusiness sector, creating opportunities for farmers, processors, women entrepreneurs and young people.
The technology dimension is particularly important because agricultural productivity does not depend on the volume of crops harvested alone. The ability to preserve produce, process it efficiently, maintain consistent quality and transport it to buyers in good condition can determine whether farmers and businesses generate sustainable returns or lose a significant portion of their output.
Modern irrigation systems, agricultural machinery, improved sorting and grading equipment, digital farming tools and solar-powered cold storage are among the technologies that can help address these challenges. Processing equipment can also enable businesses to transform crops into ingredients and finished products, potentially opening up new markets and increasing the value generated from each harvest.
Digital technologies offer additional opportunities to improve traceability, monitor production and document the origin and handling of agricultural products. These capabilities can help Ghanaian exporters demonstrate compliance with international requirements and build confidence among buyers who demand consistent quality, food safety and transparency throughout the supply chain.
However, the benefits of technology transfer will depend on whether local businesses can afford, operate and maintain the equipment they acquire. Access to financing, technical training, reliable electricity and after-sales support will therefore be essential to ensuring that new technologies translate into lasting productivity gains.
For small and medium-sized agribusinesses, the challenge is not simply identifying suitable technology but securing the capital and technical capacity to adopt it without placing unsustainable pressure on their finances.
The forum’s programme seeks to address some of these constraints directly. Following the opening ceremony and official exhibition opening, the first day features a continuous exhibition and business-to-business matchmaking platform designed to connect companies with potential buyers, investors and commercial partners.
Three masterclasses are scheduled to focus on access to finance, investing in Ghana and selling in the European Union, bringing the discussion beyond the identification of opportunities to the practical requirements for exploiting them.
The access-to-finance session, moderated by Maame Yaa Owusu of the United Nations Capital Development Fund, features Max Heinrich, German Desk Manager at Access Bank Ghana; Margo Pitura, Programme Manager for Private Sector Development at the EU Delegation; and Beate Weiskopf, Project Leader at GIZ COM-Cashew.
The session is designed to examine how agribusinesses can access grants, loans, equity investment, blended finance and European Union-backed programmes, while improving their bankability and meeting environmental, social and governance requirements.
The focus on financing is significant because agricultural businesses frequently require capital before they can generate revenue. Farmers need resources to acquire inputs and expand production, processors require equipment and working capital, while exporters must finance packaging, certification, storage and transportation before receiving payment from international buyers.
Without appropriate financing, otherwise viable businesses may struggle to expand production, meet large orders or invest in the technology required to compete internationally.
The second masterclass, on investing in Ghana, features Naa Lamle Orleans-Lindsay, Director of the Legal Division at the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority. It is expected to address the regulatory framework for foreign investment, investment registration, tax incentives, investor protections, joint ventures and Ghana’s potential as a regional business hub.
Such discussions are important because investment decisions depend not only on the availability of commercial opportunities but also on the clarity of regulations, the predictability of business conditions and the ability of investors to understand their obligations.
For Ghanaian agribusinesses, partnerships with foreign investors could provide access to capital, technical expertise, processing technology and distribution networks. For European businesses, collaboration with local enterprises could offer a pathway into Ghana’s market and the wider African market, supported by local knowledge and established commercial relationships.
The third masterclass, focused on selling in the European Union, features Luis Miguel Veral, Trade Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain, and Anthony Kofi Kamasa Quashie, an import-export expert at IPD.
The session is scheduled to examine export documentation, European Union standards and certifications, packaging requirements, the benefits of the EU-Ghana Economic Partnership Agreement, rules of origin and ways to reduce risks for buyers.
These requirements are particularly important for businesses seeking to export agricultural products to Europe. Although access to a market may create an opportunity, exporters must still demonstrate that their products meet the applicable regulatory and commercial requirements.
The EU-Ghana Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in 2016 and provisionally applied from December 15 that year, provides qualifying Ghanaian products with duty-free, quota-free access to the European Union market. However, exporters must comply with the applicable rules of origin, food safety requirements and other relevant regulations.
For businesses unfamiliar with these procedures, the costs of certification, documentation and maintaining consistent product quality can present significant barriers. Improving knowledge of export requirements could therefore help more Ghanaian enterprises prepare their products for international markets and reduce avoidable commercial risks.
The discussions come against the background of Ghana’s recent export performance. According to the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, the country’s non-traditional export earnings increased from approximately US$3.83 billion in 2024 to US$5.01 billion in 2025, representing growth of 30.7 per cent.
Processed and semi-processed products contributed approximately US$3.09 billion, accounting for a substantial share of the sector’s earnings. Cocoa derivatives, including cocoa paste, cocoa butter, cocoa powder and cocoa cake, were among the major drivers of the increase.
The figures demonstrate the potential of value addition to expand export earnings, although sustaining that progress will require investment across a wider range of agricultural products and processing industries.
Ghana’s opportunity is not limited to exporting larger quantities of raw produce. It also lies in developing the capacity to process agricultural resources locally, manufacture higher-value products, improve packaging and branding, and establish reliable supply relationships with international buyers.
This could enable businesses to retain more value within the domestic economy while creating employment in processing, logistics, quality assurance, marketing and distribution. It could also strengthen demand for agricultural produce by connecting farmers to processors that require consistent supplies of raw materials.
The importance of building local capacity was reinforced by Lasse Skaksen, Vice-President for West Africa at AAK, who highlighted the company’s long-standing presence in Ghana and its commitment to developing agricultural sourcing, processing and technical capabilities.
AAK, a global ingredients company specialising in plant-based oils and fats, has operated in Ghana since 1958 and has significant involvement in the shea value chain.
Mr Skaksen described the company’s approach to working directly with women involved in agricultural production, providing pre-harvest financing and strengthening local processing capabilities as part of its broader business strategy.
He highlighted efforts to support women involved in collecting shea nuts, including financing intended to provide income before harvests are sold. He also discussed investments in processing infrastructure and technical training as part of efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of local production.
These interventions illustrate how private-sector investment can extend beyond the purchase of agricultural commodities to help develop the productive capacity of local communities.
Pre-harvest financing, for instance, can help producers meet immediate household and production expenses before their crops are sold, reducing their dependence on less favourable financing arrangements. Direct sourcing relationships can also improve connections between producers and processors, potentially strengthening supply reliability and quality.
For women who play significant roles in agricultural production and collection, such arrangements can create opportunities for more predictable incomes and greater participation in commercial value chains.
Mr Skaksen’s remarks also highlighted the importance of technical knowledge and processing expertise. Investments in training, equipment and production standards can help local enterprises meet the requirements of buyers while developing the capacity to manufacture more sophisticated products.
The broader economic argument is that investment should not end with the purchase of agricultural commodities. It should contribute to building the local skills, infrastructure and productive capacity required to manufacture higher-value goods.
This is particularly relevant to Ghana’s industrialisation ambitions. When agricultural inputs are processed locally into ingredients and finished products, businesses can potentially access new markets, develop specialised expertise and create employment beyond primary production.
Nevertheless, the benefits depend on the commercial viability of the investments, the competitiveness of locally manufactured products and the ability of businesses to sustain production and secure buyers.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Honourable Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, attended the opening as guest of honour, bringing government representation to discussions on trade, industrial development, investment and the future of agribusiness.
Her participation underscored the importance of cooperation between government and the private sector in creating the conditions necessary for agricultural enterprises to grow.
While international partnerships can open doors to new technology, financing and markets, their success also depends on the domestic environment in which businesses operate. Ghanaian enterprises need access to affordable financing, dependable infrastructure, skilled workers, efficient logistics and clear regulatory processes if they are to take full advantage of international investment.
There is also a need to ensure that smaller enterprises can participate in the opportunities being created. Without improved access to finance, technical assistance and market information, the benefits of international partnerships could remain concentrated among businesses that already possess the resources to compete.
The challenge is therefore to build partnerships that are commercially attractive to European investors while strengthening Ghanaian ownership, production capabilities and employment.
The exhibition and business-to-business platform provides an opportunity for companies to showcase their products, explore new technologies, hold meetings with potential buyers and investors, and identify areas for collaboration. The programme also includes an evening networking cocktail at the Residence of the EU Ambassador, bringing together selected delegates, exhibitors, investors and dignitaries.
Such engagements can help establish relationships that lead to commercial agreements, but the ultimate measure of success will be whether those discussions translate into actual investment, supply contracts, technology adoption and expanded market access.
For farmers, this could mean more reliable markets and stronger links to processors. For manufacturers, it could mean access to modern equipment and technical expertise. For exporters, it could mean improved product quality, certification and distribution. For the wider economy, it could mean more diversified exports, increased productive capacity and a stronger domestic manufacturing base.
As Ghana seeks to strengthen its export performance and accelerate industrial development, the connection between agricultural production, local manufacturing and international trade will remain critical.
The EU-Ghana Agribusiness Exhibition and Forum 2026 provides a platform for exploring how European expertise and investment can complement Ghana’s agricultural resources and entrepreneurial capacity. With 42 exhibitors and more than 650 registered visitors, the first day has demonstrated considerable interest in the opportunities available.
The next step is to convert that interest into tangible economic gains: more competitive Ghanaian businesses, stronger agricultural value chains, expanded processing capacity, higher-value exports and sustainable jobs.
Ultimately, the success of the partnership will not be measured by the number of companies that gather in Accra, but by the investments they make, the products they develop, the markets they reach and the value they help create for Ghana’s economy.
