Ekumfi Fruits and Juices targets US$48m in annual turnover

Ekumfi Fruits and Juices is targeting an annual turnover of US$48 million following the government's decision to abolish the 20% excise duty on locally produced fruit juices. This fiscal policy shift, implemented under the Feed the Industries Programme, is designed to revitalise the company's operations and solidify its position as a major industrial asset in the Central Region. The move aims to enhance the competitiveness of local manufacturers by reducing the tax burden on domestic production.

To achieve this revenue target, the company is embarking on a significant expansion of its agricultural base, with plans to increase pineapple cultivation to more than 9,000 acres. This surge in production is intended to bridge the gap between local agricultural supply and industrial demand, ensuring that the processing facility operates at optimal capacity throughout the year. The expansion is expected to create thousands of new opportunities for youth and local farmers, fostering a more sustainable economic model for the surrounding communities.

The transformation of Ekumfi Fruits and Juices reflects broader industrialisation goals for the nation. Having grown from a US$6 million investment participation from the Ghana EXIM Bank, the facility is now recognised as a US$53 million industrial asset. The removal of the excise duty is viewed as a critical lever that will enable the company to meet its financial obligations while significantly increasing its employment capacity and export potential in the international market.

By integrating smallholder farmers directly into the industrial supply chain, the Feed the Industries Programme seeks to ensure that industrial growth translates into direct benefits for the rural economy. As Ekumfi scales its operations, the focus remains on sustaining continuous production and leveraging the favourable new tax environment to boost Ghana's presence in the global fruit juice sector. This strategy is expected to provide a blueprint for connecting local agriculture with high-value industrial processing.