Ofosu Ampofo Urges Cocoa Value Addition to Boost Ghana’s Revenue
COCOBOD aims to triple cocoa revenue by boosting domestic processing and value addition
- COCOBOD plans to triple cocoa revenue through domestic processing and value addition
- Processing raw cocoa locally can boost profits and create jobs for youth
- Limited cocoa bean supply is a challenge, but COCOBOD is working to resolve it
Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has highlighted value addition as a critical strategy to boost Ghana’s cocoa revenue.
He revealed that the Board is planning a comprehensive initiative aimed at tripling total earnings by increasing domestic processing of cocoa beans.
Speaking in Takoradi after inspecting the West African Mills Company (WAMCO), a cocoa processing firm partly owned by the state, Ofosu Ampofo stressed that much of Ghana’s cocoa is still exported in raw form, limiting potential profits.
He emphasized that processing cocoa into semi-finished and finished products locally could significantly increase revenue and create employment opportunities.
Currently, WAMCO is operating at only 30 percent capacity due to limited access to raw beans. Ofosu Ampofo assured that COCOBOD is working to secure a steady supply of beans to processors, enabling them to expand output and contribute to Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.
“It is only through value addition that we can create jobs for our youth and increase profitability. By processing raw beans into secondary products, we can triple the benefits. That is the direction we must pursue,” he said.
WAMCO’s Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Daniel Boakye Danquah, welcomed the Board’s visit but noted that limited cocoa bean supply remains a key challenge for the processing plant. He expressed optimism that COCOBOD’s intervention would resolve the issue.
