Former President John Agyekum Kufuor will headline the first Africa Cocoa Finance & Investment Forum (ACFIF 2026) on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
The event will take place at the London Stock Exchange and will bring together major players in the global cocoa industry.
According to a statement from the ACFIF Secretariat, Kufuor will speak on the theme: “Africa Cocoa Vision 2050 – Historical Reflections and Future Pathways.”
Organisers expect his address to open the forum’s discussions and provide insight from his years of leadership and support for agriculture in Africa.
The forum will gather investors, government officials, development partners, and private sector leaders. They will all explore how Africa can strengthen its position in the global cocoa value chain.
Organisers believe Kufuor will connect Africa’s cocoa history with future opportunities. They also see cocoa as a driver of industrial growth, regional cooperation, and long-term economic development.
The statement recalled achievements made during Kufuor’s presidency from 2001 to 2008. Cocoa production rose from about 300,000 tonnes in 2001 to around 750,000 tonnes in the 2003/04 season.
Officials credited this growth to policies such as mass cocoa spraying and fertiliser support programmes.
The statement added, “These reforms, coupled with policies promoting value addition, attracted major industry players including Barry Callebaut, Olam, Cargill, Niche Cocoa, and CHOCOMAC, helping to lay the foundation for Ghana’s cocoa processing industry.”
One major session at the forum will focus on “Africa Cocoa Vision 2050: Opportunities for Regional Growth & Transformation.”
Experts will discuss ways to attract investment, increase value addition, and strengthen Africa’s position in the global cocoa market.
The panel will include Olasunkanmi Owoyemi and Alex Assanvo, who serves as the first Executive Secretary of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative.
Another session titled “Reimagining Cocoa Value Addition” will explore financing opportunities in chocolate production, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical innovation.
Michel Arrion will also deliver a keynote address. He will focus on the proposed African Cocoa Exchange (AfCX), which aims to improve transparency and price discovery in cocoa trading.
Organisers describe ACFIF 2026 as a major global platform designed to attract investment into Africa’s cocoa sector.
They say the forum will help connect funding with real business opportunities while encouraging discussions on policy, trade, and innovation.
The event is organised by Cocoa Trade & Invest Africa and DMA Invest, in partnership with the Institute of Directors Africa Group. It aims to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and value-driven cocoa industry across Africa.
