By: Maltiti Sayida Sadick
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, has urged African countries to move beyond exporting raw cocoa and instead prioritize value addition to unlock jobs, revenue, and industrial growth.
Speaking at the 2026 Africa Trade Summit under the theme “Africa Agribusiness Industry Insights,” Dr. Dogbey said Africa’s long-standing dependence on raw cocoa exports has denied the continent billions in earnings and critical economic opportunities.
“Africa produces over 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, yet most of the value is created outside the continent,” he said. “When we export raw cocoa, we export jobs, revenue, and prosperity.”
Dr. Dogbey revealed that CMC has launched Project Elevate, a strategic initiative aimed at increasing the processing of cocoa into semi-finished products such as cocoa butter, powder, and cocoa mass before export. He said the move would strengthen Ghana’s position in global cocoa value chains while reducing exposure to volatile commodity prices.
According to him, expanding cocoa processing would create thousands of jobs, develop local skills, and stimulate related industries, including logistics, packaging, and manufacturing. Increased earnings, he added, would allow greater investment in sustainable farming and improved livelihoods for cocoa farmers.
Dr. Dogbey stressed that value addition should be a continental priority, extending beyond cocoa to all agricultural commodities. He called for stronger collaboration between governments, the private sector, and farmers, supported by enabling policies and targeted investments.
“Africa must industrialize its agriculture,” he said. “That is how we grow our economies and lift millions out of poverty.”
