Ghana’s renewed push to expand dried-fruit exports to the European Union (EU) market is placing strong emphasis on job creation for young people and strict standardisation to meet stringent European requirements.
At a high-level stakeholder engagement in Accra involving fruit producers, processors, exporters, European Union (EU) market (GEPA), Crop Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and development partners in the dried-fruit value chain, stakeholders outlined a coordinated national effort to position Ghana as a competitive exporter of dried tropical fruit.
This new direction seeks to secure a foothold in the lucrative EU dried-fruit market while creating substantial employment opportunities for the youth.
The Ghana Dried Fruit Project, which runs until 2028, aims to generate stable and decent jobs for young people within the agribusiness sector – particularly in fruit processing and exports.
With EU market standards remaining a critical entry requirement, the initiative includes targetted export-capacity support to help small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) scale production and satisfy rising demand across Europe.
Funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) and coordinated locally by Knox Consulting Limited, the programme places significant emphasis on helping producers and processors obtain EU-mandated certifications such as food safety and sustainability standards to ensure market access and competitiveness.
The project also encourages adoption of modern processing technologies and improved agricultural practices to boost productivity and enhance product quality.
In her opening remarks, CBI Programme Manager Femke Dekker said the project seeks to foster sustainable growth and job creation within Ghana’s processed fruit and vegetables industry, with a strong focus on the dried-fruit segment.
She stressed that making the sector attractive to the next generation is vital for long-term development.
“By bringing key actors together, we aim to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive value chain that meets buyer expectations and strengthens the connection between Ghana and international markets,” she said.
Representing Knox Consulting Limited, the National Coordinator-CBI Dried Fruits Project Sheila Assibey-Yeboah described the workshop as a significant step toward positioning Ghana as a reliable supplier of quality raw materials that meet EU and other global standards.
Mrs. Assibey-Yeboah highlighted the importance of empowering local enterprises to compete effectively in the export market, noting that this will strengthen collaboration across the sector, create opportunities for youth and vulnerable groups and support women to take leadership roles in driving Ghana’s emergence as a leading source of high-quality raw materials.
Director-Crop Services Directorate, MoFA, Dr. Solomon Gyan-Ansah added that Ghana stands to benefit significantly from the rising global demand for dried and processed fruit. He said Ghana’s favourable growing conditions, high-quality fruit varieties, reliable supply chains and enabling policy environment strongly position the country to meet international market needs.
