GHANA’S COCOA: EXPORTING THE SEEDS, LOSING THE WEALTH

The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Abbey, has been in Japan this week, engaging with leading chocolate manufacturers such as Glico and Itochu. The discussions, held as part of an international expo, focused on sustaining Ghana’s cocoa exports to Japan, which already accounts for nearly 70 percent of that country’s cocoa imports.

Dr. Abbey assured the companies of Ghana’s commitment to maintaining a steady supply of cocoa beans. He also briefed them on measures being taken to combat challenges like the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and the destructive impact of illegal mining on cocoa farms. The Japanese firms welcomed the assurances, pledging their continued support and recognising Ghana’s role as a critical supplier in their value chain.

But while this sounds like a success on the surface, it also reveals a painful truth about Ghana’s cocoa story. Once again, the focus is on selling raw beans instead of adding value through local processing. Ghana has been producing cocoa for over a century, yet the chocolate factories that reap the real profits sit in Europe, America, and Asia, not in Accra, Kumasi, or Takoradi.

Why must our leaders constantly celebrate being the “steady supplier” of raw materials when the true wealth lies in processing them into finished products? Japan and other nations understand this, which is why they invest heavily in manufacturing. Meanwhile, Ghana, the source of the beans, remains on the sidelines of the global chocolate industry.

This is not just an economic issue; it is a national tragedy. Every time we export beans without value addition, we are exporting jobs, wealth, and opportunities for our people. Imagine if Ghana produced its own world-class chocolate brands on a large scale, competing on shelves with Nestlé, Meiji, or Glico. The story would be different, our farmers would earn more, our youth would find work in processing plants, and our economy would thrive beyond raw exports.

Dr. Abbey’s commitment to fight cocoa diseases and preserve farmlands is commendable, but it is only half the story. Ghana’s true breakthrough will come when we stop being satisfied with being “suppliers” and start insisting on being “producers.” Until then, the cycle of exporting wealth while importing poverty will continue.