The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, has issued a Clarion call for Africa to end its reliance on raw cocoa exports and embrace integrated agro-industrial value creation at the 2026 Africa Trade Summit.
During the “Africa Agribusiness Industry Insights,” session, Dr. Dogbey warned that the continent’s current economic model is costing billions in lost revenue and jobs. He noted that despite producing over 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, Africa continues to export the bulk of its beans in raw form, allowing foreign entities to capture the high-value margins associated with processing and branding.
“Cocoa is not just a crop. Cocoa is Ghana, and Ghana is cocoa. Yet for decades, Africa has exported the bulk of its cocoa in raw form, while others capture the real value through processing, branding, and finished products. When we export raw cocoa alone, we export jobs, revenue, and prosperity. That model is no longer sustainable”
Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, CEO of CMC
Dr. Dogbey highlighted the “superior quality,” of Ghanaian beans but noted that the dependency on processing outside the continent deprives producing countries of industrial jobs and leaves the sector vulnerable to the erratic swings of global commodity prices.
He argued that the era of exporting raw prosperity must come to an end to protect the long-term sustainability of the industry and the welfare of the farmers who anchor it.
Project Elevate
To reverse this trend, Dr. Dogbey revealed that the CMC officially launched Project Elevate, a strategic initiative designed to transform Ghana’s cocoa commercialization model. The program prioritizes the processing of cocoa into semi-finished products – specifically cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and cocoa mass – before they reach the export market.
According to him, these derivatives command significantly higher margins and provide Ghana with greater leverage within the global supply chain. Dr. Dogbey characterized the project as a deliberate strategy to move beyond rhetoric and achieve tangible industrial growth.
“At CMC, we are taking value addition seriously – not as rhetoric, but as strategy. With increased revenue from value-added cocoa, we can reinvest in better farming practices, technology, and sustainability – ensuring that farmers benefit, not just traders. Africa must pursue value addition not only in cocoa, but across all agricultural commodities”
Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, CEO of CMC
The expansion of domestic processing facilities is expected to stimulate a range of allied industries, including logistics, packaging, and manufacturing. By creating thousands of specialized jobs, Project Elevate aims to develop a skilled local workforce and reduce the economy’s over-reliance on unpredictable international markets.
Driving GDP Growth
The CEO emphasized that the argument for value addition extends across the entire African agribusiness landscape. He urged continental leaders to view agro-industrialization as the primary tool for diversifying exports and improving trade balances.
“It is how we grow GDP – and lift millions out of poverty. Value addition cannot succeed without supportive policies, investment incentives, and coordinated execution”
Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, CEO of CMC
By transitioning to the export of semi-finished and finished goods, African nations can significantly boost foreign exchange earnings and align their agricultural sectors with national development priorities such as poverty alleviation and job creation.
Dr. Dogbey concluded by calling for a unified approach involving governments, private investors, and farmers. He stressed that the success of value addition requires a stable policy environment and aggressive investment incentives to compete effectively on the global stage.
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