Officials from Nigeria’s National Defence College paid a visit to the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in Accra on March 10 to study the country’s cocoa industry and its role in economic growth, as part of a regional tour aimed at drawing policy lessons for Nigeria.
The delegation of 29 participants met ministry officials on a study tour themed “Cocoa Production and Economic Growth in Ghana: Lessons to Nigeria.” Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer and the crop remains a key source of export revenue and rural employment.
The team was received by the ministry’s Director for Agribusiness, Kwame Oppong-Ntim, alongside other senior officials. Team leader Tahir S. Ngada said the visit was intended to provide participants with practical insights into Ghana’s cocoa sector and its broader economic impact. “The visit was intended to help participants gain first-hand knowledge of Ghana’s cocoa sector and its impact on economic development,” he said.
Ngada noted that the college, established in 1992, trains strategic leaders from armed forces, security agencies and public institutions across several countries. According to him, the study tour allows participants to complement their classroom-based academic training with practical exposure, particularly in areas linked to the instruments of national power such as diplomacy, information, military capability and economic development.
During a presentation to the delegation, Oppong-Ntim said that while cocoa production in Ghana is primarily managed by the Ghana Cocoa Board, the trade ministry plays a role in promoting value addition, facilitating investment and expanding market access for cocoa products.
He said the ministry works through agencies including the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) and the Ghana Standards Authority to attract investment into agro-processing, improve the business climate and ensure exports meet international standards.
Oppong-Ntim added that Ghana is seeking to increase local processing of cocoa beans into products such as chocolate and cocoa powder as part of efforts to boost value addition and raise export earnings. The engagement also included an interactive session where participants asked about investment promotion, land tenure arrangements, farmer support programmes and the ministry’s role in maintaining economic and fiscal stability.
Ministry officials said support for cocoa farmers typically focuses on providing agricultural inputs, extension services and productivity incentives rather than direct cash transfers. They also noted that most cocoa processing companies in Ghana are privately owned, with the government concentrating on creating an enabling environment to encourage private sector investment.
Officials acknowledged that illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, remains a major threat to cocoa production. The destruction of farms in some regions has contributed to declining national output in recent years, they said, adding that authorities are intensifying inter-agency efforts and community engagement to protect cocoa-growing areas.
The visit forms part of a broader academic programme by the National Defence College aimed at helping participants draw lessons from Ghana’s cocoa sector to inform policy planning and strategic discussions in Nigeria and other participating countries.
