Ghana is the second-largest exporter of cocoa in the world with about 900,000 metric tonnes annually. But the country hardly produces any cocoa by-products and this has become a cause of concern for the government.
The country hardly produces any chocolate, the most common by-product of cocoa with the industry estimated to be about $100 billion dollars. The Ghanaian government is currently seeking to rectify the issue.
The AGI (Association of Ghana Industries) is seeking a collaboration with the CRIG (Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana). The aim of this collaboration is to train young Ghanaian entrepreneurs in the art of manufacturing chocolate and other products of Cocoa.
Mr Dela Gadanku, the chairman of Easter Volta and Oti Regional branch of the AGI disclosed this information on his recent visit to CRIG at New Tafo, a town in the Eastern region of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana aims to industrialize the production and processing of Cocoa by-products, especially chocolate by the locals, to encourage the young people to take advantage of the ever-growing chocolate industry worth over $100 billion and therefore enhance the economy of the country.
