The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has begun looking for potential investors to develop the cocoa husk sector. This follows the successful completion of feasibility studies conducted by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) – the research arm of COCOBOD, on the potential benefits Ghana stands to gain should opportunities in the industry be harnessed.
The move by the COCOBOD falls in line with deliberate effort by government to develop the entire cocoa industry, add value and harness the vast potentials of cocoa husk.
This has become necessary owing to the vast potential benefits and market opportunities the cocoa husk has in stock and the total economic benefits Ghana stands to derive should the needed investment be channeled to maximize them.
Over the years, Ghana has been exporting raw cocoa beans with very little done in adding value to the beans. However, the husk – which constitutes about 80 percent of the cocoa itself has largely been ignored and left to rot after harvest. In effect, this implies that, the country has been relying solely on just 20 percent of what is produced- which is the cocoa beans – for export.
Importantly, the cocoa husk can be used for bio fuel, animal feed, wine, soap, lotion among various products of economic importance.
Speaking with the Goldstreet Business during the closing ceremony of the first edition of Africa Cocoa & Chocolate Expo (ACCE) held in Accra last Sunday, the Chief Pharmacist of the Cocoa Clinic of the COCOBOD, Dr. Edward Amporful said much has been done by CRIG over the years in harnessing the under-utilized potential of the entire cocoa sector.
“One thing about scientists is that when they develop the research and they don’t find the research being lifted off the shelf and implemented, its sometimes demotivating”, Mr. Amporful reiterated, further stressing that any investor wanting to partner CRIG can do that immediately.
Africa Cocoa & Chocolate Expo
The three day event ended last Sunday with deserving exhibitors awarded by the organisers – Know Your Cocoa Foundation, Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and other key partners.
The awards were categorized into four parts namely, best display of products, best innovative products, best packaged products and best commemorative African Cocoa and Chocolate Expo product. This was incorporated to encourage exhibitors to do more in terms of value addition to their cocoa products, coming out with new products and among others.
Briefing participants at the events, the Deputy CEO of GEPA in-charge of Administration and Human Resource, Mr. Albert Kassim Diwura appealed to the main organizer of the event – Know Your Cocoa Foundation, to consider organizing the second edition of the event in Ghana to build upon the successes it has chalked.
Goldstreet business