The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Abbey, has engaged leading Japanese chocolate manufacturers in strategic discussions that are expected to open new opportunities for strengthening Ghana’s cocoa manufacturing sector.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the ongoing Expo in Japan, brought together executives from global industry players, including Glico and Itochu, to deliberate on enhancing cocoa trade relations and investment in value-added processing.
Japan is one of Ghana’s most important cocoa trade partners, importing nearly 70 percent of its cocoa from Ghana.
Dr. Abbey reaffirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining a consistent supply of premium beans while stressing that Ghana seeks to go beyond raw bean exports.
He emphasized COCOBOD’s vision of expanding local cocoa processing and manufacturing to create more jobs, stimulate industrial growth, and increase Ghana’s earnings from cocoa.
“We are not only focused on ensuring a steady supply of quality beans to Japan but also on building strong partnerships that support Ghana’s ambition to expand cocoa processing locally. This will ensure that Ghana moves higher up the value chain and benefits more from its premium crop,” Dr. Abbey said.
He also updated the Japanese firms on interventions being rolled out to protect the cocoa sector, including rehabilitation programmes to fight the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and measures to mitigate the destructive impact of illegal mining on farmlands.
These, he noted, are critical to sustaining production for both raw beans and the emerging domestic manufacturing base.
Executives of Glico and Itochu welcomed the proposals, pledging their commitment to deepening support for COCOBOD initiatives.
They acknowledged Ghana’s pivotal role in the global chocolate supply chain and expressed interest in exploring joint ventures that could link Japanese expertise in processing and branding with Ghana’s raw material advantage.
Industry analysts say such partnerships could help Ghana accelerate its target of processing at least 50 percent of its cocoa domestically, boosting local manufacturing of cocoa liquor, butter, and powder.
Increased investment from Japanese firms would also provide opportunities for technology transfer, training, and access to international markets for Ghana-made chocolate products.
Accompanying Dr. Abbey were Mr. Ato Boateng, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration; Mr. Jerome K. Sam, Head of Public Affairs; and Mr. Sulemana Wahab from the Office of the Chief Executive.
