The World Bank has pledged to offer targeted recommendations and support to help revitalize Ghana’s cocoa sector, recognizing the significant challenges facing the industry and the untapped potential that remains.
In a meeting with President John Dramani Mahama on January 8, 2025, Ousmane Diagana, Vice President for West and Central Africa at the World Bank, discussed the critical role of agriculture in Ghana’s economy, with a particular focus on the cocoa sector. Mr. Diagana emphasized the importance of leveraging Ghana’s existing agricultural programs to tackle these challenges.
“Ghana is one of the key countries where we have prepared what we call country-climate under-development,” Mr. Diagana said. “We have identified significant potential in the agricultural sector, especially cocoa, and at the same time, we have recognized the challenges that the sector has faced.”
He further noted the collaboration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting similarities between the two countries’ cocoa industries and the potential for shared strategies. The World Bank has outlined several recommendations for tackling these challenges and improving the overall resilience and competitiveness of the sector.
“We have some dedicated programs that already exist in Ghana, and we are prepared to discuss how we can use these initiatives to address the challenges facing the cocoa industry,” he added.
President Mahama welcomed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the cocoa sector, acknowledging its pivotal role in the nation’s economy and the livelihoods of millions of Ghanaians. The government is eager to explore ways to unlock the full potential of the industry while addressing the structural and financial challenges that have hindered its growth.