Former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, is set to deliver a special address on the future of Africa’s cocoa sector at the inaugural Africa Cocoa Finance & Investment Forum (ACFIF 2026) scheduled for May 6 at the London Stock Exchange.
The high-level forum will bring together global investors, policymakers, development institutions, and private sector leaders to explore investment opportunities and transformation strategies across Africa’s cocoa value chain.
Former President JohnKufuor’s address, themed “Africa Cocoa Vision 2050 – Historical Reflections and Future Pathways,” is expected to set the tone for discussions by linking the continent’s cocoa heritage with future growth prospects. Drawing on his experience in governance and agriculture, as well as his background as a cocoa farmer, he is anticipated to outline strategies for positioning cocoa as a driver of industrialisation, regional integration, and sustainable economic development.
During his presidency from 2001 to 2008, J. A Kufuor oversaw significant growth in Ghana’s cocoa sector, with production rising from about 300,000 tonnes to 750,000 tonnes within three years. This increase was attributed to reforms such as the implementation of mass cocoa spraying and fertiliser support programmes.
His administration also promoted value addition by attracting major processing companies, including Barry Callebaut, Olam, and Cargill, helping to lay the foundation for Ghana’s modern cocoa processing industry. These efforts contributed to the country achieving a record cocoa harvest of one million tonnes in the 2010/11 season.
The event will also feature a panel discussion on “Africa Cocoa Vision 2050: Opportunities for Regional Growth & Transformation,” focusing on unlocking investment, enhancing value addition, and strengthening Africa’s competitiveness in global markets. Among the panelists are Olasunkanmi Owoyemi and Alex Assanvo.
A second session will examine opportunities beyond primary processing, including chocolate manufacturing, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical applications. Contributors include Patricia Poku-Diaby and Vishnu Kakra.
In addition, Michel Arrion is expected to present a keynote on the proposed African Cocoa Exchange, a platform aimed at improving market transparency and price discovery within the global cocoa trade.
Organisers say ACFIF 2026 is designed to become a premier global platform for mobilising finance and partnerships in Africa’s cocoa sector, while fostering policy dialogue and innovation across the industry. The forum is convened by Cocoa Trade & Invest Africa and DMA Invest, in collaboration with the Institute of Directors Africa Group.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
