The International Trade Centre (ITC) has called on stakeholders within Ghana‘s coffee value chain to prioritise sustainability, responsible production and inclusiveness as the country marks the 2025 Coffee Week celebration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Accra, Mr Lawrence Attipoe, National Coordinator for Alliances for Action Programmes at ITC, said the future of Ghana’s emerging coffee sector depended on protecting the environment and safeguarding the rights of farmers and their families. He warned that long-term growth would be undermined if harmful practices persisted.
“You cannot possibly have a sustainable coffee industry if you destroy your environment to produce it,” he cautioned, stressing that child labour and other exploitative practices must be eliminated. “You could not have a sustainable coffee industry in a manner that you use your children and their labour to grow and process the coffee. That will not be sustainable, and it will be unacceptable in today’s world.”
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Mr Attipoe said Coffee Week provided a platform to recognise farmers, processors and young entrepreneurs whose contributions keep the value chain functioning. “Every value chain is as strong as the smallest or weakest link is strong,” he noted.
He added that the ITC continued to work with national partners to enhance global visibility for Ghana’s coffee while strengthening the participation of women and young people in the sector. A gender and youth workshop scheduled for November 21 forms part of this effort.
Other activities for the week-long celebration include barista training and a field tour to Kewu, where participants will explore the seed-to-cup journey—covering soils, varieties, harvesting methods, fermentation, drying and farm-level practices that determine product quality.
The celebration will climax with the Ghana Coffee Festival at the Nyaniba Market.
