The Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) has welcomed the government’s renewed policy direction aimed at increasing the local processing of cocoa before export.
The company’s officials described the measure as a major boost for value addition, job creation and industrial growth.
Government recently announced plans to ensure that at least 50 per cent of Ghana’s cocoa output is processed locally before export.
The policy aligns with long-standing calls for the country to derive greater economic value from its primary commodities, particularly cocoa, which remains Ghana’s leading export crop.
Speaking to journalists in Tema last Friday on the sidelines of activities marking this year’s National Chocolate Day celebrations, the Deputy Managing Director for Operations of CPC, Osei Kwame Griffiths, said the announcement reflected strong political commitment and the outcome of sustained engagement by the company’s board and management.
The National Chocolate Day is celebrated annually to promote the consumption of Ghana-made chocolate and to highlight the country’s premium cocoa heritage.
As part of the celebration, which culminates on Valentine’s Day, February 14, CPC opened its doors to members of the public and learners to sample products and tour its processing facilities.
Mr Griffiths said CPC was excited about the new policy direction and stood ready to work closely with the government to expand processing capacity and deepen local value addition across the cocoa value chain.
“This is the right direction for any nation that seeks sustainable development. Instead of exporting raw materials, we must add value locally.
When cocoa is processed into semi-finished and finished products, it creates jobs, supports industrial activity, and improves incomes across the value chain,” he said.
Premium
He stressed that Ghana’s cocoa remained the best on the global market due to its superior fermentation and drying processes, which ensured strong demand for cocoa products, particularly semi-finished outputs such as cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, and cocoa cake.
Learners from Bellus Spring Academy sampling some made-in-Ghana chocolate products during a tour of the facility as part of the National Chocolate Day celebration
Mr Griffiths explained that CPC’s exports were currently dominated by semi-finished products, which consistently attracted ready markets internationally.
However, he said, the company’s main constraints had been limited processing capacity and the availability of cocoa beans — challenges the new government policy was expected to address.
“With increased access to cocoa beans and enhanced processing capacity, CPC will be able to process more cocoa locally without worrying about supply bottlenecks,” he said.
Capacity
Touching on production capacity, Mr Griffiths disclosed that CPC currently produced between 700 and 800 cartons of chocolate per day, occasionally reaching up to 1,000 cartons, especially for 100-gram chocolate bars.
He revealed that plans were underway to more than double output in the coming months through the installation of new machinery and the refurbishment of existing equipment.
He reiterated CPC’s commitment to supporting government’s industrialisation agenda and contributing to national economic transformation through increased local cocoa processing.
“This policy gives us confidence in the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry, and CPC is ready to play its role,” he said.
The Manager in charge of Chocolate Production at CPC, James Ababio, said the company was prepared to meet growing consumer demand during the Chocolate Week celebrations and beyond.
New policy
The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, last Thursday announced a new policy aimed at significantly increasing the local processing of cocoa beans as part of broader reforms to ensure financial viability and long-term sustainability in Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Speaking at a press conference, the Finance Minister outlined a series of Cabinet-approved directives designed to strengthen value addition within the country, create jobs, and reposition Ghana from a predominantly raw cocoa exporter to a leading processor of cocoa products.
Under the new financing model, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) will now have the flexibility to sell cocoa beans of any volume directly to local processing companies.
The measure is intended to remove previous supply bottlenecks and empower domestic processors to expand operations and increase production capacity.
Cabinet has further directed that, with immediate effect, the remainder of cocoa beans for the 2025/2026 crop season be allocated primarily for domestic processing.
The decision marks a deliberate policy shift toward retaining more value within the local economy rather than exporting unprocessed beans.
The Finance Minister also announced as part of processing a minimum of 50 per cent of all cocoa beans locally, the state-owned CPC would be revived as a priority intervention.
The company is expected to be repositioned to become a leading processor of cocoa beans, thereby strengthening Ghana’s domestic processing capacity and enhancing competitiveness in global cocoa product markets.
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