ACCRA, GHANA – Cargill has announced that it has completed the 16-month, $ 13 million expansion of its cocoa processing plant in Tema, Ghana, an initiative that has increased the mill’s crushing capacity by 20% and increased its annual production capacity to 90,000 tonnes. With the expansion, the factory becomes the largest cocoa processing plant in Ghana.

“This type of investment can serve as a motor to launch new economic activities,” said Harold Poelma, president of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate. “This is part of our continued efforts to create sustainable local agribusiness businesses, diversify sources of income and support a thriving cocoa sector. “

Along with the commissioning of the Tema processing facility, Cargill highlighted other efforts to support sector transformation and social impact, in partnership with state agencies such as COCOBOD and other key stakeholders. such as CARE International and Safe Water Ghana.

“Establishing a close partnership with government agencies, technical partners and local community leaders allows us to have a significant impact in the communities where we operate,” said Aedo van der Weij, Managing Director by Cargill Ghana. “They share our vision and help guide our efforts to create a sustainable cocoa supply chain. By working together, we can accomplish much more than we could ever do on our own. “

The announcement comes less than a month after Cargill completed the $ 100 million expansion of its cocoa processing facility in Yopougon, Côte d’Ivoire, a project that makes the Yopougon facility the most large cocoa grinding plant in Africa. As part of the expansion, Cargill doubled the site’s production capacity, improved infrastructure and implemented safety improvements. The expansion has also resulted in the creation of nearly 100 full-time local jobs and hundreds of indirect jobs, Cargill said.