Dangote Proposes 500,000 Tonne Cocoa Processing Deal With Ghana

Aliko Dangote is in talks with the Ghanaian government to process 500,000 metric tonnes of cocoa locally, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has said.

Forson disclosed the proposal during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express on Thursday. He said Dangote contacted him and President John Dramani Mahama directly about using Ghana as a hub for cocoa processing. No formal agreement has been signed and negotiations are still ongoing.

What Dangote wants

Forson said the proposal could involve processing 500,000 tonnes of cocoa beans in Ghana. “Dangote has reached out to use Ghana as a hub to process cocoa locally. He reached out to me. He reached out to His Excellency the President. He’s ready to come to Ghana,” the minister said.

He clarified that both parties were yet to finalise the terms of the arrangement. The deal is still under discussion.

Ghana’s local processing push

The talks come as Ghana moves to cut its dependence on raw cocoa bean exports. While presenting the country’s 2027 budget to Parliament, Forson announced plans to process at least 50% of Ghana’s cocoa locally by 2028. The government is targeting 100% local processing by 2030.

The plan is expected to go beyond grinding cocoa beans. It covers finished products including cocoa liquor, butter, cake, powder, chocolate and cosmetics.

Ghana’s broader commercial agriculture programme is expected to receive $3 billion under a $10 billion economic transformation agenda covering 2027 to 2030. The strategy is designed to keep more economic value in Ghana, stimulate industrial development, create jobs and strengthen local businesses.

Dangote’s wider footprint

Dangote is the founder and president of Dangote Group, one of West Africa’s largest conglomerates. Its investments span cement, sugar, fertiliser, food processing and petroleum refining.

He started his business career trading commodities such as rice, sugar and cement before expanding into manufacturing and building operations across several African countries.

Dangote Cement has a presence in multiple African markets. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos began crude oil processing in 2024. Forbes ranks Dangote as Africa’s richest man.

For Nigerian businesses, the proposal points to another cross-border play by Dangote, this time in cocoa processing. For Ghana, it could support a plan to retain more value from its cocoa before export.