This was disclosed at a National Stakeholder Forum on Cooperative Development organised by the Secretariat in Accra.

Held under the theme “Cooperatives as a Pathway to Sustainable and Inclusive Socio-Economic Development in Ghana,” the forum provided a platform for dialogue, consensus-building, and action among key stakeholders across the cooperative ecosystem.

As part of the process, the Secretariat has constituted a joint committee to draft a Cooperative Legislation Bill to be submitted to Parliament for consideration and, upon approval, assent by President John Dramani Mahama. The proposed framework is intended to replace outdated legal provisions and align the cooperative sector with current economic and institutional realities.

The Secretariat is also collaborating with cooperative associations to secure funding and technical assistance for the revival and modernisation of cooperative support systems across the country, with the aim of strengthening governance, improving access to finance, and enhancing operational capacity.

In his opening address, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, underscored the critical role of cooperatives in revitalising Ghana’s real sector (including agriculture, manufacturing and SMEs).

He noted that cooperatives remain one of the most effective vehicles for empowering women, youth, and small businesses, but continue to face longstanding challenges, including limited access to finance, weak institutional support, and an outdated legal framework that is over 58 years old.

He stressed that cooperatives that cannot access capital cannot grow and called for urgent reforms to unlock the sector’s full potential.

The proposed cooperative reforms are expected to strengthen farmer participation across production, processing, and marketing value chains. The Secretariat noted that many farmers currently operate under systems where external entities control key aspects of production and input supply, limiting profitability despite increased output.

Under the proposed arrangements, cooperatives are expected to play a stronger role in owning and managing processing infrastructure, supported by improved governance structures.

A more continuous production approach is expected to maximise asset utilisation and support job creation, while circular production models will help convert by-products into additional revenue streams.

The reforms are also expected to improve access to more affordable financing, enhance technical support, and strengthen overall value chain integration.

The introduction of mechanisms such as a Solidarity Fund is expected to provide a buffer against production and market shocks, while structured market systems aim to improve market access and price predictability for cooperative members.

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, highlighted the role of cooperatives in boosting aquaculture, creating jobs, and enhancing value addition for export, noting government’s interest in partnering with cooperatives across selected districts.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hamidu Adakruogu, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the regulatory environment, promoting decent work standards, and positioning cooperatives as viable platforms for structured job creation, particularly for the youth.

The Secretariat emphasised that the legal and institutional reforms, combined with the new cooperative arrangements, are expected to reposition farmers from primary producers to owners of agro-industrial enterprises, strengthening the sector’s contribution to national economic transformation.

In closing, the National Coordinator for the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, Kyeretwie Opoku, expressed appreciation to stakeholders and reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to working collaboratively to drive the transformation of Ghana’s cooperative sector.