Accra: The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has embarked on a transformative partnership with Swiss stakeholders to advance cocoa juice production, marking a strategic shift in Ghana's cocoa value chain.
According to Ghana Web, the collaboration was highlighted during a visit by COCOBOD's Chief Executive, Dr. Ransford Abbey, and Swiss Ambassador Simone Giger to the KOA Impact processing facility in the Eastern Region. This visit emphasized Ghana's leadership in cocoa value addition, particularly through the extraction and commercialization of cocoa 'sweatings', a by-product of cocoa fermentation. KOA Impact has innovatively converted this by-product into premium cocoa juice, offering new economic opportunities in the sector.
The initiative focuses on evaluating the technical and commercial viability of scaling cocoa juice production nationwide. By capturing cocoa sweatings before fermentation, the process creates an additional revenue stream for farmers without affecting cocoa bean quality. Discussions between the delegations centered on expanding this initiative to other regions and attracting increased foreign investment into Ghana's cocoa sector.
Dr. Abbey described the project as transformative, stating that it raises awareness of the full cocoa value chain and ensures tangible wealth for farmers. Ambassador Giger praised the project as a successful example of Swiss-Ghanaian collaboration, positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable cocoa processing.
The KOA Impact facility uses solar-powered technology for processing, aligning with sustainability goals and creating local employment opportunities. This initiative supports skills development for young people in the region, reinforcing its socio-economic impact. Industry analysts highlight that diversifying cocoa products aligns with Ghana's strategy to reduce raw bean exports and increase earnings through value addition, a policy long supported by COCOBOD and the government.
As global demand for sustainable food products rises, partnerships like this are expected to secure Ghana's competitive position in the international cocoa market.