News in Brief:
– Ghana opens direct cocoa bean sales to artisanal chocolate makers, aiming to boost domestic consumption and support small businesses.
– The initiative encourages artisanal firms to expand and diversify, aligning with the cocoa board’s broader strategy to transform the cocoa sector.
In a move to support small businesses and boost domestic cocoa consumption, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced a new policy allowing artisanal chocolate makers to directly purchase cocoa beans from the Cocoa Marketing Company Limited (CMC).
This initiative, starting in 2024, addresses the challenges faced by small-scale processors who previously had to buy beans from secondary sources at higher costs and with limited access.
Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive of the COCOBOD, emphasised that artisinal firms should use this opportunity to expand, innovate and diversify their production lines to maximise profit.
The announcement coincides with the 2024 National Chocolate Week Celebration, highlighting COCOBOD’s broader strategy to transform the cocoa sector.
Since 2017, the Board has implemented various schemes aimed at increasing domestic cocoa processing and consumption. It has raised the per capita consumption from 0.45kg to 1kg within 5-7 years, a report said, leveraging a 500,000-ton processing capacity.
Boosting domestic consumption and supporting small businesses
Aidoo acknowledged that targeted campaigns and collaboration were behind the board reaching this milestones, but stressed the need to further elevate consumption levels closer to those in Europe and the Americas (7kg-11kg).
The Chocolate Week Celebration plays a crucial role in raising awareness about cocoa’s nutritional benefits and cultural significance. Aidoo attributed the growing acceptance and appreciation for home-grown chocolates to the emergence of innovative cocoa-based products by hundreds of artisanal chocolate makers.
He also addressed the ongoing challenge of cocoa bean shortage because of factors like illegal mining, climate change, and smuggling. While mitigation efforts are underway, he highlighted success in productivity-driven and price guard initiatives over the past seven years.
Additionally, the COCOBOD plans to hand over several rehabilitated farms to beneficiary farmers in March 2024 to significantly increase annual cocoa stocks. Productivity enhancement programs are also expected to contribute to higher yields.
The initiative received praise from Akwasi Agyemang, Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority who commended the collaboration with the board in promoting cocoa consumption. 2024’s celebration focuses on engaging youth through various activities.
