Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, declared on June 4th at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values that Africa must secure a more substantial portion of the multi-billion dollar global cocoa and chocolate industry. He emphasized the urgent need for structural changes within the continent’s agricultural systems to ensure that its producers reap greater benefits from the value chain.
Shifting Beyond Raw Material Exports
Minister Opoku asserted that achieving true food sovereignty in the 21st century extends beyond merely producing food. Africa, he stated, must transition away from its historical role as an exporter of raw commodities.
This call comes as Africa produces approximately 70 percent of the world’s cocoa beans. Despite this significant contribution, the continent captures a disproportionately small share of the value generated by the global chocolate industry, estimated to be worth around $129 billion.
Leave a Reply