Ghana has doubled local cocoa processing to 50 percent of its 900,000 tonnes harvest in 2026, up from 25 percent in 2020, to capture more value from chocolate.
President John Mahama inaugurated the new $200 million Kumasi Chocolate Factory, which will produce 100,000 tonnes of chocolate bars for AfCFTA market. Ghana is world's second largest cocoa producer but earned only $2 billion from raw beans.
Now Ghana earns $4.5 billion from processed cocoa paste, butter and chocolate. The government banned export of raw beans beyond quota and gives tax incentives for factories. Over 20 new factories opened in Ashanti and Western regions, creating 30,000 jobs.
Farmers benefit, with cocoa price raised to $3,000 per tonne in 2026, up from $1,200 in 2022. COCOBOD provides free seedlings and digital payments to 800,000 farmers.
Ghana's chocolate brand Golden Tree now sells in Nigeria, Kenya and UK. Tourists visit cocoa farms in Kakum. Ghana and Ivory Coast, which produce 60 percent of world cocoa, coordinate to control global price, similar to OPEC.
Experts say Ghana's value addition model should be copied by Nigeria for oil and Zambia for copper. Ghana aims to process 80 percent by 2030.
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