A high-level workshop organised under the EU Horizon 2020-funded Trade for Sustainable Development (Trade4SD) project brought together key stakeholders from Ghana’s agri-food sector, European research institutions, and policymaking bodies to explore the intersection of trade and sustainable development, with a focus on the cocoa and cashew value chains.
The workshop, held on 8 May 2025 at the ISSER Conference Centre, featured expert panel discussions and case presentations. Topics ranged from transforming Ghana’s agri-food systems and enhancing sustainability policies, to identifying actionable strategies for integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into trade frameworks.
The event followed a successful dissemination workshop held by Trade4SD consortium members in Brussels in April, marking the conclusion of the four-year (June 2021 to May 2025) project. The project aimed to identify new opportunities to strengthen the link between trade, trade policy, and the SDGs.
“We aim to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders to promote sustainable trade practices and policies,” said Prof. Peter Quartey, Director of ISSER and lead of the Trade4SD Ghana team, as he welcomed participants. He emphasised the project's objectives to increase understanding of linkages between trade and sustainable development, share best practices, identify policy recommendations, and develop actionable strategies for integrating sustainable development into trade policies.
Highlighting the Ghana team’s contributions, co-lead Prof. Ebo Turkson noted that, beyond being one of the 12 consortium partners, Ghana was selected as one of the case study countries for the project. He explained that the team has made significant contributions through literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative data collection within the cocoa and cashew value chains, and the preparation of numerous reports, including a peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of International Development titled Interlinkages between Agri-Food Trade and the SDGs at the Global, Regional, and Local Levels.
Prof. Martin Banse, Director of the Thünen Institute of Market Analysis in Germany and lead of the Trade4SD Germany team, delivered the keynote address on "Fostering the Positive Linkages between Trade and Sustainable Development – Lessons learned from the Trade4SD project," offering valuable insights on strengthening connections between trade and sustainable development.
A notable contribution came from the Trade4SD Italy team, represented by Sara Romano, PhD student at Tuscia University/National Council for Agricultural and Economic Research (CREA), and Federica Morandi, Research fellow at CREA in Rome. They presented comparative case studies on Ghana's cocoa and cashew sectors, contributing to the evidence base for policy discussion.
The workshop facilitated meaningful dialogue through two panel discussions. The first panel explored "The EU-Ghana Trade Relationship and Opportunities for Sustainable Development," moderated by Mrs. Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng, Technical Manager at the Côte d'Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI). Panellists included representatives from the International Trade Centre, COCOBOD, the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), and the Ghana International Trade Commission.
The second panel, moderated by Dr. Justina Onumah from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, examined "Transforming Ghana's Agri-food Systems: The Role of Sustainability Policies in Promoting Resilient Cocoa and Cashew Value Chains." This session featured insights from Prof. Quartey, representatives from COCOBOD, the private sector, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Trade4SD Ghana team member Dr. Emmanuel Abbey presented on lessons learnt and the way forward, with Prof. Quartey delivering closing remarks. The event concluded with a valuable networking session, allowing participants to forge new connections and deepen existing relationships.
The workshop attracted a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Cocoa Board, the Ghana-Côte d'Ivoire Cocoa Initiative, policymakers, and industry actors, alongside other Trade4SD Ghana research team members, Dr. Ralph Armah and Dr. Mawuenyega Butu.
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