Ghana and the Netherlands share a long-standing and evolving trade and investment relationship, underscored by the presence of approximately 150 Dutch companies operating across various sectors in Ghana, such as manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy and health among others.
The Netherlands is among the top five importers from Ghana, driven in large part by the significant trade in cocoa.
This economic relationship has deep historical roots. For decades, Dutch support to Ghana focused on development assistance, particularly in sectors such as health, water, and sanitation. However, 2022 marked a shift in bilateral relations — from a donor-recipient dynamic to a modern partnership focused on sustainable trade and investment.
At the heart of this renewed cooperation is the Netherlands’ commitment to private sector development. The Embassy in Accra is currently pursuing a combined approach that prioritizes the horticulture and cocoa value chains.
This strategy not only encourages Dutch businesses to invest in Ghana but also seeks to create economic opportunities, particularly for youth and women, while promoting climate-smart and innovative solutions within these sectors.
Looking ahead, the Netherlands is scaling up its support to further develop these value chains. The objective is clear: to boost employment, support commercially viable farming, and foster entrepreneurship. This approach is anchored in close collaboration with Dutch companies, investors, and knowledge institutes, ensuring that trade and development efforts are mutually reinforcing.
Horticulture
The horticulture sector – the production of fruits and vegetables – is a vital component of Ghana’s agricultural economy, contributing to food security, employment, and income generation. The country produces a diverse range of crops, including tomatoes, peppers, pineapples, and mangoes, among others. Despite its potential, the country faces challenges in post-harvest losses, limited access to markets and finance and poor infrastructure.
Ghana’s annual demand for tomatoes and onion for instance, outstrips its supply, necessitating imports from neighboring countries. These supply gaps, coupled with increasing demand for fresh vegetables position the sector as a promising avenue for growth, particularly with investments in value addition, modern farming and market expansion.
The Netherlands Embassy in Ghana has been a committed partner in supporting Ghana’s development of its horticultural sector, contributing to its growth through initiatives like the Horticulture Business Platform (HBP). The HBP stands as a model of the strong, mutually beneficial trade relationship between Ghana and the Netherlands.
HBP brings together key stakeholders in the horticulture sector—ranging from smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, logistical companies, (Dutch) input suppliers, exporters, and development partners—to engage in structured dialogue, knowledge sharing, and business matchmaking. This inclusive platform fosters collaboration, encourages innovation, and aligns efforts toward a more sustainable and commercially viable horticulture industry.
Dutch companies contribute their world-class expertise, technologies, and high-quality agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, irrigation systems, greenhouses, and farm machinery. These contributions help enhance the productivity, resilience, and competitiveness of Ghanaian farmers and agribusinesses.
In return, Ghanaian horticultural producers offer value to Dutch partners through the supply of fresh vegetables and fruits for export, fulfilling offtake agreements, and supporting the diversification of supply chains.
The result is a dynamic ecosystem where both sides benefit: Ghanaian producers gain access to modern technologies, new markets, and improved incomes, while Dutch companies tap into a growing horticultural base, secure reliable supply chains, and expand their footprint in West Africa.
By facilitating these exchanges, the Netherlands not only supports economic growth and job creation in Ghana but also strengthens long-term commercial partnerships rooted in trust, value addition, and shared goals.
Furthermore, the collaboration between TU Delft, Holland Greentech, and five agricultural colleges in Ghana, Ghanaian students and young farmers receive practical training in climate-smart horticulture and agribusiness, helping to transform agriculture into a viable career path.
The integration of modern farming techniques into the curriculum of colleges such as Kwadaso, Ohawu, Damongo, Ejura, and Wenchi strengthens agricultural education and promotes sustainable food systems.
In return, the Dutch institutions benefit from working in diverse agro-ecological settings, gaining new insights into tropical agriculture and co-developing locally relevant solutions. The collaboration also supports joint research and the development of scalable models that can be applied in other parts of Africa. This two-way knowledge flow enhances both Ghanaian and Dutch expertise while building lasting institutional ties that foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the horticultural sector.
Cocoa
The Netherlands supports Ghana’s cocoa sector with a focus on sustainability, profitability, and inclusive growth. Recognizing cocoa as a vital contributor to Ghana’s export revenues—and to the Netherlands as a major cocoa processor— the Embassy engages strategically across the value chain. Its approach aligns with the Dutch Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (DISCO) and prioritizes eliminating child labour, halting deforestation, and improving farmer livelihoods.
A central role is played in fostering collaboration between public institutions, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to address structural issues such as land and tree tenure, fair pricing and purchasing practices, and sector governance.
In order to counter the challenges in the cocoa sector, efforts are underway to increase farm-level productivity through agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, and innovation. In a collaboration with a number of Dutch companies, the embassy works on setting up a Farm of the Future, where farmers and businesses can get inspired about the potential of future-proof farming.
Through this project, the embassy wants to improve the farmers’ access to different innovations and products. These include supporting the adoption of solar-fed irrigation systems, practices around value addition of cocoa byproducts, and digitalization.
In line with the Government of Ghana’s wish to improve service delivery to farmers, the embassy supports the professionalization and scaling up of Rural Service Centers with Fairtrade Africa and Tropenbos Ghana. This project will help facilitate access to finance, provide training, and boost youth entrepreneurship in the sector.
Special attention is given to building resilient farmer incomes, especially through value addition of cocoa byproducts and diversification of income. As part of the EU Team Europe Initiative, the Embassy also plays a critical role in supporting Ghana’s preparedness for upcoming EU legislation on due diligence and deforestation, while leveraging these changes to push for deeper sector reforms.
Conclusion
As we mark King’s Day and celebrate the enduring partnership between Ghana and the Netherlands, it is evident that this relationship has evolved into one rooted in mutual respect, shared prosperity, and long-term collaboration.
From fostering sustainable trade in cocoa and horticulture to driving improvements in the business environment, the Netherlands Embassy’s initiatives reflect a deep commitment to inclusive growth, innovation, and private sector development.
By leveraging Dutch expertise and strengthening bilateral cooperation, both nations are charting a path toward a future where trade and development go hand in hand—empowering businesses, creating jobs, and unlocking new opportunities for generations to come.
