By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi
West African Mills Company (WAMCo), a cocoa processing firm in Takoradi, has signalled plans to scale up production in line with government’s vision of processing at least 50 percent of cocoa locally.
The policy, announced by President John Dramani Mahama, is aimed at strengthening the cocoa value chain, boosting local employment and driving economic growth through increased in-country processing.
The move is expected to be achieved by expanding the capacity of local processors to convert raw cocoa into higher-value products.
This came to light when Managing Director-Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey paid a working visit to WAMCo in Takoradi to assess the company’s readiness ahead of the directive.
The visit also formed part of efforts to align industry players with the reform agenda, which incorporates CMC’s ‘Project Elevate’ – an initiative designed to promote export of semi-finished cocoa products.
The engagement marks a significant step in CMC’s broader strategy to deepen cocoa value addition and expand export opportunities, while strengthening partnerships with processors to enhance the sector’s contribution in the national economy.
Dr. Dogbey noted that as the industry prepares for transition, commitment by government and key stakeholders will be critical to ensuring success and improving Ghana’s competitiveness on the global market.
He assessed WAMCo’s processing capacity, infrastructure and operational readiness – stressing the need for facilities to be adequately prepared for increased volumes and higher quality standards.
“It is crucial that we prepare our processing facilities to handle the increased capacity and quality standards which will come with the reform,” he stated.
He underscored the importance of collective action across the cocoa value chain saying: “This is not just a government initiative; it is a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of all stakeholders,” he added.
The engagement also featured discussions with WAMCo executives on production targets, pricing, demand, technology investments and quality certifications required to support the transition.
WAMCo’s management highlighted ongoing efforts to upgrade certifications and improve operational efficiency to meet the growing demand for semi-finished cocoa products.
Post Views: 2
Discover more from The Business & Financial Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
