Ghana seeks Japanese partnership to boost cocoa processing, infrastructure development  

GHANA – Ghana’s President John Mahama has called on Japanese companies to partner with the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) through a public-private arrangement aimed at boosting local processing and creating industrial jobs.  

The appeal was made during his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the TICAD9 summit in Yokohama. 

With Ghana supplying nearly 70 percent of Japan’s cocoa imports, Mahama stressed that deepening investment in domestic processing would not only secure jobs but also increase Ghana’s export revenues.  

The discussions centered on two key areas of cooperation: cocoa processing and infrastructure funding, with both leaders committing to stronger economic collaboration. 

On infrastructure, Mahama pressed for further Japanese assistance to complete the long-awaited Volivo Bridge over the Volta Lake. The bridge is considered essential for connecting Ghana’s northern farming regions to southern markets, reducing transport bottlenecks for food crops such as yam and maize.  

Although Japan pledged over JPY 11 billion for the project in 2016, a substantial funding gap remains. 

The talks also underscored efforts to strengthen cultural ties, with both sides highlighting upcoming anniversaries in Ghana-Japan relations. Japan reaffirmed its commitment to addressing Ghana’s infrastructure challenges and expressed readiness to collaborate on multilateral issues. 

Recently, President Mahama recently appointed Professor William Coffie as Acting Managing Director of CPC to spearhead efforts to revitalize the company.  

His leadership is expected to focus on expanding market presence, improving efficiency, and steering the company toward profitability. 

Despite these efforts, CPC continues to face financial difficulties. In the third quarter ended June 30, 2025, the company posted a net loss of US$10.23 million, compared to US$9.57 million in the same period in 2024.  

Operating losses widened to US$7.29 million from US$6.94 million year-on-year, while revenue declined by 27 percent to US$16.16 million from US$22.20 million. 

Total borrowings reached US$38.72 million, with short-term debt accounting for US$35.03 million. Trade payables rose by 50 percent to US$75.31 million, including US$34.70 million owed to the related Cocoa Marketing Company. 

Although cocoa bean processing increased slightly to 2,902 metric tonnes, confectionery output dropped by 30 percent to 737 metric tonnes, highlighting persistent challenges in value-added production. 

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