Ghana seeks foreign investment for cocoa industry

Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after Côte d'Ivoire, is aiming to boost its local processing of cocoa beans starting with the 2026/2027 harvest. To achieve this, the government is actively seeking foreign capital to support the industry’s growth and modernization.

Cocoa Marketing Company outlines investment areas

On October 26, Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, general director of the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), presented investment opportunities during the African Cocoa Finance and Investment Forum in New York. These opportunities include rehabilitating cocoa plantations, advancing local transformation processes, adopting new technologies, conducting research, and improving risk management strategies.

Ghana aims to boost local processing capacity

The Ghanaian government has set a goal to locally transform at least 50 percent of the country’s cocoa beans by the 2026/2027 campaign, up from 30 to 40 percent previously. Authorities also plan to relaunch the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), one of the country’s main processors, to help meet this target.

Current processing capacity remains underused

Despite efforts to increase local processing, Ghana is not fully utilizing its industrial transformation capacities. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, local processors handled about 220,000 tons of beans annually between 2023 and 2025, even though the country produced roughly 600,000 tons of cocoa beans each year.

Challenges hinder industry growth

A study by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in 2022 identified several challenges preventing the full use of transformation capacities. These include difficulties in securing a steady supply of beans, high electricity and operating costs, and limited access to capital. Logistical issues and market access problems further weaken the industry’s competitiveness.

Cocoa derivative exports see significant growth

Cocoa derivative exports generated $1.8 billion in 2025, a 90 percent increase compared to the previous year. Cocoa paste was the top contributor, followed by cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and cocoa husks. This growth has been driven by rising cocoa prices and increased global demand.

Ghana explores new markets for cocoa products

Beyond traditional chocolate industry products, Ghana is looking to develop new markets for cocoa derivatives, such as cosmetics made from cocoa butter and beverages derived from cocoa pulp. Dogbey emphasized that these initiatives could diversify the sector’s revenue, but they require appropriate funding and reliable markets to succeed.