Ghana is seeking private investment in agri-business as part of its national priority to achieve food security, minimise spending on imports and also to earn more from value-added agricultural products.
The country spent over US$530 million on sugar imports in the last five years, prompting the urgent call for private investment to resuscitate the once thriving industry. Demand for sugar is rising at the rate of 2.3% annually, creating a huge market for potential investors. A guaranteed market also exists for sugar and its by-products in the pharmaceuticals and beverage industries.
Ghana has perfect conditions for large-scale sugarcane cultivation in areas like Agona Swedru in the central region, Tarkwa
in the western region, and parts of the northern savannah Agro-Ecological Zones.
Sugar cane farming requires the availability of affordable labour, which Ghana has in abundance. The country's membership in regional trading bodies like ECOWAS provides investors with a large potential market for products.
Investment opportunities
1. Cultivation of sugar cane in large- scale to feed sugar mills
2. Establishing mills to process sugar and ethanol from raw materials sourced from out-growers
3. Provision of services such as irrigation, harvesting, consultancy and marketing
Incentives
Ghana offers various incentives such as tax holidays, 100% tariff exemption on production equipment, locational incentives, low corporate tax, 100% profit repatriation, and a stable, democratic political environment.
Read more about specific incentives and
guarantees offered by Ghana here.
For more information about investing in the sugar cane industry and other agricultural and manufacturing specific incentives contact the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.
Key contact: Stephen Debre
Senior Investment Officer
Agric & Agribusiness
Email: sdebre@gipcghana.com
Website: http://www.gipcghana.com
Tel:+233 21 521 283-9 or +233 21 506 208
Fax: +233 21 506 205 / 7
