Ghana Free Zones Authority Wraps Up National Chocolate Week 2026, Showcasing Cocoa Export Strength

The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) has concluded its National Chocolate Week 2026 celebrations, held as part of activities leading to National Chocolate Day on February 14.

The week-long celebration not only honoured Ghana’s rich cocoa heritage but also spotlighted investment and export opportunities within the cocoa and chocolate value chain under the Free Zones Scheme.

Driving Cocoa Value Addition Through the Free Zones Scheme

Through the Free Zones Scheme, GFZA promotes local cocoa processing as a strategic driver of export growth, job creation, and industrial development.

Enterprises operating under the scheme benefit from a range of incentives, including:

• Duty-free importation of machinery and production inputs

• Corporate tax holidays

• Unrestricted repatriation of profits

• Streamlined licensing processes

• Dedicated investor facilitation support

These incentives position Ghana as a competitive destination for export-oriented cocoa-processing investment.

As of January 2026, GFZA had licensed 20 cocoa processing companies producing a broad range of products, including cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, cocoa powder, confectionery, beverages, skincare ingredients, and innovative by-products such as cocoa pulp juice.

$1.8 Billion in Export Earnings in 2025

In 2025 alone, Free Zones cocoa processors recorded cumulative export earnings of approximately $1.8 billion and provided direct employment to nearly 1,900 Ghanaians. Additional indirect employment was generated across packaging, logistics, catering services, and farming communities.

Under the theme, “Celebrating Ghana’s Cocoa Heritage the Free Zones Way: Taste, Learn and Enjoy,” the 2026 celebrations combined national pride with economic ambition.

Ghana remains one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, contributing between 20 and 25 percent of global cocoa output. However, industry experts note that the greatest economic potential lies in value addition, branding, and export expansion—areas where GFZA continues to play a pivotal role.

Industry Engagement and Product Showcase

The celebrations featured a series of activities, including:

• Free chocolate drinks for staff

• An enterprise engagement visit to a cocoa processing company

• A showcase exhibition of products from Free Zones enterprises

GFZA acknowledged the participation and support of key industry players, including:

• Cocoa Processing Company

• Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd

• Cargill

• Olam Ghana

• Fairafric

Exhibitors showcased innovative products such as chocolate-coated nuts, cocoa beverages, skincare inputs, and cocoa pulp juice.

Selected staff also participated in a painting competition, with winners receiving hampers of assorted chocolate products.

Call for Expansion and New Investment

As National Chocolate Week 2026 concludes, GFZA has encouraged existing Free Zones enterprises to deepen value addition and expand production capacity. The Authority also extended an invitation to prospective investors to leverage Ghana’s strong policy framework, international market access, and Free Zones incentives to explore opportunities in cocoa processing and chocolate manufacturing.

GFZA expressed appreciation to participating enterprises, partners, and media stakeholders for supporting the promotion of Ghanaian cocoa excellence and advancing the country’s export-led industrialisation agenda.