The Ghana EXIM Bank, in collaboration with the Office of the President under the Presidential Initiative on Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) and the Coconut Federation of Ghana, has undertaken one of the largest field inspection tours across 10 major coconut-growing regions: Volta, Eastern, Central, Ashanti, Western, Western North, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Greater Accra.

This visit follows barely two months after the distribution of 3,000,000 elite, disease-resistant coconut seedlings to farmers.

This national initiative, fully financed by the Ghana EXIM Bank, forms a core pillar of the President’s flagship programme to plant 11 million coconut seedlings across 11 regions, firmly positioning Ghana as Africa’s leading coconut producer and an emerging global supplier. 

The visionary leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the Chief of Staff, the CEO and the Board of Ghana EXIM Bank and the Office of PIAA continue to drive the country’s coconut transformation agenda.

As Ghana’s official export-development bank, GEXIM has prioritised coconut as a high-value export crop capable of earning substantial foreign exchange, creating sustainable jobs, and strengthening rural economies.

Coconut and coconut-derived products continue to command strong global demand, coconut water is worth USD 5.73 billion, growing at 150% monthly, coconut meat is also peak USD 5.19 billion, while coconut shell nut is USD 0.95 billion and coir products is USD 0.64 billion. 

Ghana is already leveraging these opportunities; in 2021, Ghana exported 41,326,637 kg of coconuts worth USD 11.44 million. Ghana is now the world’s 9th-largest exporter of desiccated coconut, valued at USD 22 million (2022), and the global coconut export market stood at USD 14.19 billion in 2023.

During the Fruit Logistica 2025 exhibition in Berlin, one of the world’s largest fresh-produce trade shows, buyers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America expressed strong interest in, desiccated coconut, fresh mature nuts, coconut oil, copra cake, coconut charcoal, coir products, coconut water and other coconut-based industrial raw materials.

Buyers highlighted Ghana’s competitive advantages: rich organic nature, superior taste, high oil content and consistent quality.

This increasing demand underscores the urgency of expanding Ghana’s coconut acreage from 90,000 hectares to 135,000 hectares and raising annual production from 600,000 metric tons to 900,000 metric tons.

The joint inspection team visited over 600 farms across the 10 regions, observing strong seedling performance, proper field management, and high farmer enthusiasm.

The Vice President of the Coconut Federation of Ghana, Kwaku Boateng, said, “The level of care farmers are giving these seedlings is commendable. These visits help us gather real-time feedback and provide technical support. 

“The coconut value chain can create thousands of jobs, direct and indirect, especially for youth and women. With the President’s leadership and EXIM Bank’s support, Ghana is steadily becoming a global coconut hub.”

Farmers expressed deep appreciation for the government’s support.

One farmer, Joseph Korang, shared, “I had the land but could not afford the seedlings. Receiving them freely was a huge blessing. I thank President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana EXIM Bank, and the Coconut Federation for making this possible for farmers like us.”

Many farmers also requested additional seedlings for the next planting season to expand their farms and contribute to Ghana’s export agenda.

Coconut cultivation is now thriving in 11 of Ghana’s 16 regions, involving thousands of farmers, processors, exporters, youth groups, and rural women entrepreneurs.

The EXIM-funded project aims to support 80,000 farmers nationwide, create over 50,000 indirect jobs and 10,000–20,000 direct jobs, increase Ghana’s export earnings, strengthen rural industrialisation and enhance Ghana’s global competitiveness in the coconut market