Webinar on “A Sustainable Ghana Cocoa Sector”

On Friday, 17th October 2025, the Ghana Netherlands Business & Culture Council (GNBCC), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and members, Cargill Ghana Ltd. and Solidaridad Ghana, hosted an insightful webinar on “A Sustainable Ghana Cocoa Sector – Investments, Innovation, and Opportunities.”

The discussion brought together over seventy (70) stakeholders and attendees from government institutions, tertiary organizations, the private sector, and development partners to explore practical strategies for securing the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry, from empowering youth and women to fostering innovation, sustainability, and local value addition.

Moderated by Naana Biney Ohemeng, Head of HR & Operations at GNBCC, the session featured a distinguished panel, including Naomi Tuinstra, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Max H. Essoh Latte, Managing Director, Cargill Ghana Ltd.; and Eric Amoako Agyare, Country Representative, Solidaridad Ghana.

This webinar was both engaging and impactful. Prior to the session, participants had the opportunity to submit their questions and topics of interest, which were shared with the speakers and integrated into the discussion. During the live session, additional audience questions were also addressed in real time, creating an interactive and dynamic exchange.

The conversation began with a focus on youth inclusion, as panelists emphasized the need to modernize farming practices through technology, entrepreneurship, and digitized training to make cocoa farming more appealing to younger generations. Eric Agyare stressed that “technology, value addition, and innovation must redefine the sector,” while Naomi Tuinstra highlighted initiatives such as “farms of the future” and youth hackathons linking education with real-world solutions.

Sustainability and social responsibility also featured prominently. Max Essoh Latte shared how Cargill’s Cocoa Promise integrates traceability, farmer livelihoods, and community support, while all panelists underscored the importance of climate-smart practices, regenerative farming, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to build sector-wide resilience.

The discussion also explored financing challenges and opportunities within the sector. Speakers advocated for creative solutions such as village savings and loan associations, blended finance, and mechanisms to de-risk agricultural lending. “Farmers must be treated as entrepreneurs,” Naomi Tuinstra noted, emphasizing the need for collective financial empowerment for smallholders.

A recurring theme throughout the session was value addition and local processing, identified as vital for capturing greater economic benefits within Ghana. Panelists praised the growing number of women and youth entrepreneurs producing cocoa-based products locally — a sign of transformation from a cocoa-exporting nation to a chocolate-producing one.

In closing, the speakers called for collaboration, innovation, and persistence to ensure Ghana’s cocoa sector remains competitive and sustainable. As Naana Biney Ohemeng noted, “The future of Ghana’s cocoa depends on partnerships that empower people, foster innovation, and prioritize sustainability.”

A big thank you to our speakers and all participants for making this webinar a success.
For those who couldn’t join us, the full recording is available on our YouTube channel here.