Ghana’s position as a global cocoa powerhouse is under serious threat due to declining productivity, insufficient investment, and increasing international sustainability demands, the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, has warned.
Speaking at a high-level forum in Accra, Mr. Verheul said Ghana risks losing its competitive edge in the global cocoa market if immediate investments are not made to improve productivity and meet new European Union sustainability regulations.
“If production keeps declining as it is now, there will be less cocoa to export, less foreign exchange for the economy, and lower incomes for farmers,” he said. “That’s a serious threat to the national economy.”
Ghana Faces Stiff Competition from Emerging Cocoa Giants
Mr. Verheul cautioned that countries like Ecuador and Brazil are rapidly modernizing their cocoa sectors, and could soon overtake Ghana if strategic reforms are not made.
He emphasized that Ghana must act decisively to remain globally competitive and protect its share in the lucrative cocoa export market.
“There is an imperative for the Ghanaian economy to maintain the cocoa sector, invest in it, and make it more productive and more competitive,” he said.
EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) Looms
The Ambassador made these remarks during the High-Level Public-Private Dialogue on Ghana’s Readiness for the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), held in Accra.
The CSDDD, which comes into effect in phases beginning this year, requires European companies to ensure that their supply chains , including cocoa, do not contribute to deforestation, child labour, or human rights violations.
This directive has direct implications for Ghana’s cocoa sector, as Europe remains the country’s largest export market for cocoa.
Netherlands Pledges Support for Cocoa Sector Transformation
Mr. Verheul noted that while EU compliance is crucial, it will not by itself solve all the sector’s problems. He stressed that achieving a living income for cocoa farmers will require more than regulatory changes.
“A living income will not be sustainable if farms are not profitable,” he stated. “The CSDDD will help, but it is not enough on its own. Ghana needs long-term investment and transformation in the cocoa value chain.”
He reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Ghana through public-private partnerships and stakeholder engagement to future-proof the cocoa sector.
Farmers Must Prepare for Global and Local Markets
Also speaking at the event, Larry Attipoe, National Coordinator for the International Trade Centre (ITC), explained that the initiative aims to help Ghanaian cocoa and coffee farmers meet both export compliance standards and local market demands.
“Our current focus is on cocoa and coffee, where we are actively engaging and training farmers to meet compliance and avoid disqualification from international markets,” Attipoe said.
