The President, John Mahama has indicated that his government’s transformation agenda for Ghana “is kicking in.”
He has therefore pledged his commitment to Ghanaians that he will continue to focus on working to transform the economy to help the nation become a net exporter of goods rather than an importer.
The President made these remarks when inaugurated a new cocoa processing factory in the Tema Free Zones area which is being run by Touton.
President Mahama in his address said the new cocoa processing plant will help government’s policy of processing at least 50% of the country’s cocoa locally.
Presently, it is estimated that Ghana is processing about 30% of cocoa beans locally and according to the President; his government has the intention of increasing the number to at least “half of our total production.”
“We say we want to add value to our cocoa beans. Touton’s plant has given that policy a major boost,” he said.
President Mahama observed that the decision by Touton to choose Ghana out of the many countries to build its first processing plant is a “demonstration of the confidence that Touton has in the economy of Ghana.”
“In addition to our time tested recognition as a country that is stable, and full of hospitable people, Ghana also boasts of all the needed indicators for the running of a successful and profitable business,” he added.
According to him, Ghana is an ideal entry point to access the vast ECOWAS market of over 300 million people and expressed the confidence that “Touton’s wealth of experience in trading in cocoa, coffee, vanilla and spices in over ten countries would be useful to Ghana’s cocoa industry.”
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