Ghana’s cocoa sector is set for a major financing boost following a $134 million risk-sharing arrangement signed between Access Bank Ghana PLC and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), aimed at strengthening liquidity across the cocoa value chain, particularly for Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs).
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Accra, the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Matilda Asante-Asiedu, described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to support the backbone of Ghana’s cocoa purchasing system.
“This scheme is strategically designed to provide essential working capital to Licensed Buying Companies the backbone of Ghana’s domestic cocoa purchasing system,” she said.
According to her, supporting LBCs goes beyond commercial interest, stressing that “ensuring their liquidity is not merely a commercial objective, it is a national economic priority.”
She explained that the stability of LBCs “safeguards rural livelihoods, strengthens export earnings, and supports exchange rate resilience.”
Matilda Asante-Asiedu noted that the partnership aligns with Ghana’s broader development priorities, including financial inclusion, private sector participation, and economic diversification.
“This scheme is designed not only to harness opportunities along the cocoa value chain, but also to align closely with our national priorities,” she added.
She further pointed to Ghana’s improving macroeconomic conditions, noting that “through prudent monetary policy implementation and disciplined fiscal management, we have restored macroeconomic stability, strengthened confidence, supported GDP growth, and brought inflation back to single-digit levels.”
The risk-sharing facility is expected to enhance the capacity of LBCs to purchase cocoa from farmers more efficiently, reduce financing gaps, and contribute to greater stability in the sector, which remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy and a major source of foreign exchange earnings.
