The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have intensified preparations for a major agro-processing value chain development project aimed at expanding Ghana’s intra-African exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The follow up meeting, at the Ministry in Accra, brought together Directors and technical officials of MoTAI and a delegation from JICA to refine the scope, activities and stakeholder roles ahead of the project’s scheduled take-off in November.
The project, titled the Project for Agro-Processing Value Chain Development under the AfCFTA Framework, is a four-year technical cooperation initiative scheduled to run from November 2026 to October 2030.
Its overarching objective is to enhance Ghana’s capacity to add value to agricultural produce and leverage the vast market opportunities presented by the AfCFTA to increase exports of agro-processed products within the continent.
The meeting was led on behalf of the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Noah Tumfo. The JICA delegation was led by Ms. Aizu Naho.
Presentations during the session focused on JICA’s broader technical cooperation architecture, the specifics of Ghana’s project request, and insights drawn from JICA’s extensive experience in food value-chain development in Asia.
The JICA team also outlined the scope and schedule of the detailed planning survey to be conducted, potential project activities, and the mapping of key stakeholders in Ghana and their expected roles in implementation.
According to officials, the proposed project is strategically aligned with Ghana’s industrialization agenda and its AfCFTA implementation strategy, which prioritizes value addition, export diversification, and private sector competitiveness.
JICA Collaborate with Stakeholders to Build Development in Related Institutions
The current engagement builds on two earlier phases of collaboration between JICA, the African Union Development Agency and AfCFTA related institutions.
Phase One, undertaken in 2024, focused on the development of the AIDA/AfCFTA Standard Guide for Country Assessment, a framework designed to evaluate country readiness and identify interventions to boost agro-processing value chains under the continental free trade regime.
Phase Two, implemented between August 2025 and March 2026, involved a pilot assessment in five volunteer countries, including Ghana. That exercise resulted in a Country Impact Assessment Report and a Policy Brief that outlined constraints and opportunities in Ghana’s agro-processing sector.
The Policy Brief, which is expected to inform the design of the new project, identified five critical intervention areas for strengthening the sector. These include scaling up value addition and processing capacity, improving firm level competitiveness, aligning enabling conditions with industrial scale production.
Also, enhancing conditions and service delivery at the firm interface, and promoting inclusive participation in the value chain, particularly for women, youth and small and medium enterprises.
‘’Ghana’s agro-processing sector, despite its potential, continues to face challenges such as fragmented supply chains, low levels of processing technology adoption, limited compliance with international standards, and inadequate market linkages, all of which limit export potential.’’
Mr. Tumfo
The JICA supported project is expected to address these bottlenecks through targeted interventions that will contribute to the establishment of effective value-chain strategies, enhance the export capacity of private enterprises, and strengthen government capacity to support exporters.
Specifically, the project will support private firms to meet export standards and certification requirements, improve production efficiency and product quality, and connect with buyers across the African market.
Government to Support Institutions to Build More Capacity
On the government side, it will build institutional capacity to formulate and implement coherent policies, streamline regulatory processes, and deliver business support services more effectively.
‘’Ghana’s agro-processed exports is critical not only for foreign exchange earnings but also for job creation, food security, and structural transformation of the economy. With the AfCFTA creating a single market of over 1.4 billion people, Ghana is positioning itself as a regional hub for agro-processing, building on its strengths in commodities such as cocoa, cashew, fruits, vegetables, and oil palm.’’
Mr. Tumfo
Mr. Tumfo underscored the importance of broad stakeholder engagement to ensure the successful implementation of the project. He noted that there were still opportunities for further consultations with relevant regulatory and technical agencies before the programme officially commences.
He stressed the need to involve key institutions such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), and private sector associations to address technical and regulatory requirements related to food safety, quality standards, packaging, and labelling.
Mr. Tumfo reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with JICA and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the project delivers tangible results for Ghanaian businesses and contributes meaningfully to the country’s AfCFTA ambitions.
The meeting ended with both sides expressing optimism about the next steps, including the detailed planning survey and the finalization of the implementation framework ahead of the November 2026 launch.
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