Ghana's $45 billion economy is the seventh biggest in sub-Saharan Africa and according to World Bank projections, will expand by 8.3% this year. This rise gives the small West African country the fastest growth rate on the continent. In order to improve the investment climate for international investors, Ghana has implemented several ambitious reforms. To date, these efforts are paying off as Ghana was ranked the best place for doing business in West Africa, ahead of Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, according to the 2017 Ease of Doing Business Report.Ghana is one of the most politically stable countries in West Africa and has been a multiparty democracy since 1992. The country ranks 26th globally and 2nd in Africa in the 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Read moreLooking For A Sweet Investment? Try Chocolate!
What do tonight’s dessert and your next investment have in common? Potentially chocolate, or cacao plants, at least. Consumer demand for specialty cacao beans continues to grow and is actually outpacing farmers’ ability to grow it in some areas. The demand for specialty or flavored beans used in premium dark chocolate goods is rising even faster than the traditional bulk cacao beans used in other candy that many farmers are used to growing. Like many other soft commodities, the production of cacao is concentrated in a small group of mostly developing countries in the tropics. These farms are susceptible to extreme weather, conflicts, credit shortages, and lack of working capital. Even so, cacao farms present an attractive option for investors looking for relatively low-risk opportunities.
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