A delegation from the Netherlands, led by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Her Excellency Mrs. Liesje Schreinemacher paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Accra, Ghana.
The meeting aimed to explore areas of cooperation and mutual benefit between the two countries in agriculture, trade, and development.
The discussion focused on maximizing cooperation in the cocoa sector, particularly in cocoa trading and marketing, as well as addressing legislative concerns in cocoa production.
The meeting also led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of agricultural working groups between the two ministries. The MoU for Ghana- Netherlands focuses on areas including cocoa and horticultural production, agribusiness, and the promotion of sustainable farming practices.
Dr Bryan Acheampong emphasized Ghana’s commitment to working with the European Union and other EU countries to ensure the sustainable production of cocoa in Ghana. He also highlighted Ghana’s readiness to comply with new EU regulations on traceability and sustainable cocoa production but emphasized the need for adequate and transparent information flow to ensure effective compliance.
The meeting also touched on the issue of child labour on cocoa farms, with Dr Bryan Acheampong stating that it is a common practice in Ghanaian culture for families to take their children to the farm to teach them about agriculture, hard work, and responsibility. He clarified that children are not considered part of the workforce on farms.
Her Excellency Mrs. Liesje Schreinemacher reiterated the Netherlands’ commitment to strengthening its cooperation with Ghana in areas of commerce and scientific research to improve the cocoa sector.
The visit is seen as a significant opportunity for both countries to explore areas of cooperation and mutual benefit in agriculture, trade, and development.