Ghana is aiming to become a major player in the global coffee market by creating premium, value-driven products and robust trade corridors.
Speaking at the 2025 Coffee Week launch, Dr. Ishmael Nii Dodoo said the 24hr Economy programme is creating “growth corridors” to link production zones with industrial parks and ensure efficient logistics. “Our entry point is to look at the Voter Economic Corridor… we are now welcoming you to create a coffee corridor… with the quality that is required within an agroecological park, meeting some of the impact investors’ needs, social and environmental norms, certification standards, Halal certification standards, ISO 9000 standards, and all the global market standards.”
Dr. Dodoo highlighted the importance of meeting international standards to expand exports. “Very often, the reason we are not able to send our coffee to market is because we don’t really meet those standards. So we will work with you… to build your capacity to meet those standards.”
He challenged stakeholders to increase local control of the coffee economy, noting, “If $20 million is just in Greater Accra region… who actually controlled the $20 million? Cheap imports… are the ones that actually control perhaps 70% of the $20 million.”
Dr. Dodoo urged producers to craft top-quality, uniquely Ghanaian coffee that can compete globally: “Can you craft a coffee quality that is unequal to any in the world? That is prized for what it is… can you craft a coffee quality that will add to the powerful?”