The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Ransford Abbey, has intensified Ghana’s drive to expand domestic cocoa manufacturing by holding high-level discussions with leading Japanese chocolate manufacturers.
The strategic meeting, held on the sidelines of an international trade expo in Japan, aimed to strengthen cocoa trade relations, attract investment in local processing, and build sustainable partnerships to enhance Ghana’s cocoa value chain.
The session brought together top executives from global industry players including Glico and Itochu, two of Japan’s largest confectionery and trading firms.
Japan remains one of Ghana’s most critical cocoa trade partners, importing nearly 70 percent of its cocoa requirements from Ghana.
Dr Abbey reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to maintaining a steady supply of premium-quality cocoa beans, while emphasising the country’s determination to move beyond the export of raw beans to higher-value products.
“We are not only focused on ensuring a reliable supply of quality beans to Japan but also on forging robust partnerships that will enable Ghana to expand cocoa processing locally.
“This approach ensures that Ghana moves higher up the cocoa value chain, creating jobs and generating greater revenue from our premium crop,” he stated.
Dr Abbey highlighted several key interventions aimed at safeguarding the future of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
These include rehabilitation programmes to combat the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and ongoing measures to mitigate the impact of illegal mining on cocoa farmlands.
These initiatives, he noted, are essential to maintaining production levels and supporting the country’s emerging domestic cocoa manufacturing base.
Executives of Glico and Itochu welcomed the proposals and pledged their commitment to deepening collaboration with COCOBOD.
They recognised Ghana’s pivotal role in the global chocolate supply chain and expressed keen interest in exploring joint ventures that would combine Japanese expertise in processing and branding with Ghana’s raw material advantage.
Accompanying Dr Abbey were Mr Ato Boateng, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration; Mr Jerome K. Sam, Head of Public Affairs; and Mr Sulemana Wahab from the Office of the Chief Executive.
All engaged with the Japanese stakeholders to reinforce Ghana’s message of sustainable growth and value addition.
