Ghanaian food manufacturer Hakama Company Ltd. is commercializing traditional Hausa Koko as a frozen, ready-to-use paste, offering consumers a faster way to prepare the popular breakfast drink while expanding the market for locally processed food products.
The company showcased its products at the “This is Ghana” Exhibition, organized by Citi FM and Channel One TV, bringing together Ghanaian businesses seeking to promote locally made products, engage consumers and build new commercial relationships.
Josephine, who represented Hakama at the exhibition, said the company’s Meera Hausa Koko is designed to reduce the time and effort associated with preparing the drink, particularly during Islamic festive periods when traditional Koko vendors may not operate.
The frozen paste allows consumers to prepare Koko at home by boiling water, adding a scoop of the product and mixing it. The local breakfast can be ready in about 10 minutes, according to Josephine.
The product is packaged in a container priced at 50 cedis and can serve about 10 people, making it a relatively low-cost option for households serving larger groups, she said.
The product is frozen rather than preserved with additives, according to Josephine.
“There are no preservatives. So, that’s why it’s kept frozen in that state,” she said.
The product addresses a broader shift in consumer demand toward convenience while retaining the taste and preparation associated with a traditional Ghanaian food product. By processing and packaging Koko in advance, Hakama is seeking to move part of its preparation from the household or street vendor to a commercial production environment.
Meera Hausa Koko is part of Hakama’s wider portfolio, which includes Meera Palm Soup Base, Meera Agushi Mix and Meera Tomato Sauce, according to Josephine.
The diversification gives the company exposure to several everyday food categories while using processing and packaging to reduce preparation time for consumers.
Hakama is also offering delivery services, with the company taking orders in Accra and Kumasi, according to Josephine.
The distribution model could allow the company to reach consumers beyond physical retail outlets while supporting demand for its packaged food products.
For Hakama, the commercialization of Hausa Koko illustrates the potential for Ghanaian food manufacturers to turn traditional foods into standardized, packaged products suited to changing lifestyles.
The frozen Koko format provides a way to preserve a familiar local product while positioning it for consumers who increasingly value convenience and time savings.
