The Board Chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, says the Board is exploring measures to triple Ghana’s total cocoa earnings by massively expanding value addition in the sector.
He has explained that the plan hinges on ensuring round-the-clock processing of cocoa beans locally, rather than exporting most of them in their raw state.
Following an inspection of the West African Mills Company (WAMCO) in Takoradi on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the Board Chairman announced COCOBOD’s commitment to supplying sufficient raw cocoa beans to domestic processors.
WAMCO, a state-owned plant in which COCOBOD holds a 40% stake, is currently operating at only 30% capacity due to shortage of beans.
But the Board Chair stressed that local value addition is the surest path to higher revenue and job creation.
“We believe the time has come to process a far greater volume of our raw beans domestically. Value addition is the key to creating jobs for our youth and increasing profitability. By processing beans into secondary products here in Ghana, we can triple the economic benefits. This must be our focus,” he said.
Welcoming the visit, WAMCO’s Deputy Managing Director for Finance and Administration, Dr. Daniel Boakye Danquah, reiterated that the factory’s most significant operational hurdle remains a shortage of raw beans.
“Our main challenge is the supply of cocoa beans, which the Board says it is ready to address,” he noted.
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