“Interrogate the cocoa value chain” — Dr. Kwaku Afriyie calls

Former Member of Parliament for Sefwi-Wiawso, Kwaku Afriyie, has called for a deeper, more honest national conversation on cocoa value addition, urging the government to allow market forces to function properly while Ghana strategically maximises returns from its cocoa sector.

Speaking on Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Afriyie cautioned against treating value addition as a silver bullet without critically examining how global cocoa markets actually work.

“They should make sure market forces work properly. Everything must be put on the table for discussion,” he said.

He stressed that cocoa pricing is shaped not only by production volumes but also by global market dynamics, including speculative trading, which he believes policymakers must openly address.

“There are already speculators in the market, and that is one key area we need to pay attention to,” he noted.

Dr. Afriyie also highlighted the imbalance in the global cocoa value chain, pointing out that while cocoa is grown largely in West Africa, the bulk of profits accrue elsewhere.

“About seven multinational companies control the global cocoa industry. It is roughly a $40 billion industry, yet Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together do not earn more than $7 billion at the end of the season,” he argued.

While acknowledging the government’s push for increased local processing, he urged caution and critical evaluation of what form of value addition truly benefits the country.

“They keep talking about value addition and local processing, but we need to interrogate that carefully,” he said. “If you focus only on cocoa butter and cocoa powder without proper strategy, the returns may still be disappointing.”

He questioned the tangible gains from current processing efforts, noting that a significant portion of Ghana’s cocoa is already processed locally.

“About 40 per cent of our cocoa is processed here. What real value has that brought us?” he asked. “Those operating in industrial enclaves, cocoa processing firms and free zones should assess how much value has actually been added.”

Dr. Afriyie further argued that Ghana’s reputation for premium-quality cocoa means exporting raw beans can, under certain market conditions, be more profitable than limited processing arrangements.

“Ghana produces high-quality cocoa. Sometimes, depending on the market, exporting the beans can bring in more value than processing them locally under unfavourable terms,” he explained. “It is a very complex issue.”

His remarks come at a time when the government insists that recent cocoa producer price adjustments are unavoidable due to global market volatility and inherited financial obligations, even as cocoa-growing communities continue to demand better returns and stronger support.