The government of Ghana has implemented policies such as Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA); Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II) and Medium Term Agricultural Sector Investment Plan (METASIP) with the aim of adding value to Ghana’s raw agricultural products (e.g. cocoa, cotton, oil palm, etc.) and increasing food processing.

The Market

The quantity of cocoa processed locally increased from 211,710 mt in 2012 to 229,839 mt in 2013. This implies that over 18,100 more tonnes were been processed in 2013 than in 2012. Further analysis revealed that, percentage of the total production that is processed locally has increased from 24% in 2012 to 28% in 2013. This shows that campaign to discourage the export of raw commodities is yielding dividend.

Guinness Ghana Limited and Accra Brewery Limited have introduced cassava beer into the Ghanaian market which is currently doing very well. The introduction of the beer has provided ready market to cassava farmers. This is partly responsible for the general increase in the area put under cassava production. So far, a total of 4,741 mt have been purchased with Guinness Ghana Limited buying over 74% and Accra Breweries buying the rest.

Brazil Agro Business Ltd, PVL, GADCO, Aveyime, Afife / Weta, ICOUR are also large scale rice commercial farms operating under irrigation. Their milled and branded packaged rice are sold everywhere on the Ghanaian market. These farms are contributing immensely to the increased rice production and consumption in Ghana.

Ghana’s exports of some prepared or processed foods and beverages – 2013

PRODUCT WEIGHT VALUE(US$)

Canned Tuna 23,814,997 144,068,530

Cut Fruits 5,442,958 34,416,150

Gin 3,547,889 26,116,412

Wine 27,111.773 16,400,435

Baby Food 3,381,399 16,134,991

Ethyl Alcohol 2,549,893 14,127,356

Coffee Prepared 1,821,176 10,062,332

Gingerbread 32,678 19,139

Canned Meat 8,137 16,003

Vegetables Prepared nes 25,987 13,245

Asparagus Prepared 12,586 12,015

Condiments & Seasonings 3,776 11,760

Fish Prepared nes 14,244 11,438

Fruit Juice, Grapefruit 10,021 11,328

Fruit Juice, Guava 7,661 8,400

Shrimps & Prawns Prepared 8,388 5,177

The food industry is one of the essential sectors of every economy across the world. The Association of Ghana industries through diverse support mechanisms and through various policy reforms have helped in creating an enabling and fast-growing food industry in Ghana. This sector oversees and advocates for better business conditions that affects players within the food and associated sectors.