Africa Must Control its Cocoa Destiny, Says Cocoa Farmers

African Heads of State have been urged to take the future of their cocoa industry into their hands, stating the urgency to transform the continent’s cocoa industry from dependency to prosperity.

President of the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA),  Adeola Adegoke who said this at the African Cocoa Summit and Awards 2025 held in Ghana, said Africa must move from being a mere exporter of raw cocoa beans to becoming a ‘producer of finished cocoa products and a controller of its own destiny.

“Cocoa is not just a commodity; it is a livelihood, a legacy, and a lifeline for millions of African families. If Africa produces 70% of the world’s cocoa, then Africa can and must claim its rightful share of value, dignity, and prosperity,” he said.

Adegoke lamented the imbalance in the global cocoa economy, where African farmers earn less than $2 per day while major multinational processors and chocolate manufacturers capture over 90 per cent of the profits.

“This is not just an economic injustice; it is a moral one. The hands that grow the cocoa should not live in poverty. The same farmers whose sweat sustains a $130 billion global chocolate market must begin to share in that wealth.”

He warned that unless bold structural reforms are implemented, African cocoa producers risk losing their global leadership position to emerging competitors such as Ecuador and Brazil, who are rapidly increasing both production and value-chain integration.

“The era of exporting 100% raw beans and importing finished cocoa products and derivatives to Africa for consumption must end. Africa’s cocoa story must be rewritten by Africans, for Africans,” Adegoke declared.