Government pledges support to cocoa processors to be more viable

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support strategic institutions in the cocoa sector to boost national revenue. 

She said that after years of depending on exporting raw cocoa, it was now imperative to enjoy the benefits of the cash crop by adding more value.

“Our mission is to transform Ghana’s cocoa sector from exporting raw beans to exporting proudly Ghanaian, high-value products. CPC is leading this effort and the government will continue to back them fully,” she said during a strategic meeting with the leadership of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday.

Meeting

The CPC delegation was led by its Managing Director (MD), Prof. William Coffie.

The engagement focused on ways to expand Ghana’s cocoa value-addition agenda and enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s cocoa products.

A citation was presented to her in recognition of her advocacy of value addition and for promoting the consumption of Ghanaian-processed cocoa products.

The Vice-President stressed the need to intensify local processing of Ghanaian cocoa as a key strategy to boost national revenue, create jobs and strengthen the country’s position in regional and global markets.

“Processing our cocoa locally is not just an economic priority; it is central to Ghana’s industrial growth and economic sovereignty.

“By adding value here at home, we ensure that Ghanaian cocoa products compete strongly in both African and international markets,” she stated.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also encouraged CPC to expand its domestic distribution, particularly targeting senior high schools across the country.

“This untapped market can increase local consumption, support youth nutrition, and cultivate a new generation that values Ghanaian products,” she added.

On continental expansion, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a strategic platform.

“CPC has the opportunity to take Ghanaian cocoa products across Africa. AfCFTA provides the avenue to grow markets, enhance competitiveness, and showcase our high-value products to the world,” she said.

Progress

The MD of CPC said the institution had recently recorded significant progress, including a 100 per cent increase in its share price over the past three months, reflecting renewed investor confidence.

“The growth in our share price demonstrates the global recognition of Ghana’s cocoa potential and CPC’s commitment to excellence,” Prof. Coffie said.