Ghana : Cocoa Supply Chain Risk Assessment

Abstract

Cocoa is by far Ghana's most important crop. It dominates the agricultural sector and is a major source of income for approximately 800,000 farmers and many others engaged in trade, transportation, and processing of cocoa. Cocoa holds a unique position in Ghana's economy. It has long played a crucial role in Ghana's economic development and remains an important source of rural employment. It also remains the country's most important agricultural export crop. Among development priorities, the Government of Ghana (GoG) is committed to securing the future profitability and sustainability of the cocoa supply chain. To this end, following decades of declining output and stagnation, GoG has made sizable investments in restructuring the industry, improving productivity, and reducing marketing inefficiencies. It has set ambitious targets to raise output while maintaining its industry-leading quality standards. These initiatives have paid dividends in recent years, with significant gains in national output in the most recent decade along with surging export revenues.