Ghana and Jamaica collaborate for better chocolate from bean to bar
While Africa and the Caribbean supply most of the world’s raw cocoa, other countries earn more money by making it into chocolate.
Cocoa processors from Ghana and Jamaica recently met to exchange expertise on how to add value to their cocoa.
By processing more cocoa locally, they can earn more money, create jobs, and boost economic growth.
This was the driving force behind the peer-to-peer learning workshop, where cocoa processors from Ghana and Jamaica came together to share knowledge and strengthen their skills.
It’s part of a broader strategy to strengthen small businesses in the global cocoa value chain and foster sustainable, inclusive trade. It aligns with the International Trade Centre’s Alliances for Action initiative, which aims to boost local processing, value addition, and entrepreneurship across developing regions.
The workshop was held in Accra, Ghana, from 22-23 July. Hosted under the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) programme, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), it provided a rare opportunity for South-South learning between two major cocoa-producing regions.
Organized with the Food Research Institute (FRI), the two-day workshop welcomed renowned Jamaican chocolate maker Nadine Burie, founder of Likkle More Artisan Chocolate.
Nadine is among the cocoa processors working with ITC in the Caribbean, under the 'ACP Business-Friendly' programme funded by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).
Ghanaian cocoa processors learned about cocoa bean transformation, high-temperature preservation techniques, crystallization processes, and strategies for preventing chocolate bloom. Those advanced technical skills can enhance product quality and expand product lines. Nadine said the event encouraged participants to share their experiences.
‘We talked about flavours and what sets them apart from other countries,' she says.
Filling critical gaps in cocoa processing
This workshop was the first peer-to-peer learning initiative under the NTF V programme in Ghana. Nadine’s experience growing her Jamaican startup provided invaluable insights.
‘The biggest challenge they faced was temperature control, leading to sugar and cocoa butter blooming, which affected both the texture and appearance of their chocolate,’ says Nadine. ‘Many lacked the ability to maintain a 24-hour air-conditioned facility. Packaging and ingredient labeling also needed improvement, especially if they aim to export.’
She emphasized the importance of mastering the Bean-to-Bar process and adapting it to Ghana. That way, Ghanaian cocoa processors can elevate their products’ standards, boosting their appeal in international markets and positioning their country as a premium cocoa producer.
'Nadine’s insights on product diversification, especially the incorporation of local ingredients to create unique flavour profiles, have introduced exciting possibilities for innovation in our product line,’ says Mayqueen Serwaa Frimpong, Production Lead of the Artisanal Line at Fairafric in Ghana. ‘This knowledge positions us to offer more distinctive, premium chocolate products to both domestic and international markets.’
This initiative strengthens international partnerships that support shared growth across regions.
The NTF V programme wants to build a network of small businesses that contribute to their countries’ economies through value-added production. By fostering South-South collaboration, ITC’s efforts are driving forward a new era of inclusive trade, where local processors are equipped with the skills and tools to succeed on the world stage.
About the projects
The ACP Business-Friendly programme is funded by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and jointly implemented by ITC’s Alliances for Action, the World Bank and UNIDO. It seeks to improve the ability of agribusiness firms in ACP countries to compete, grow and prosper in domestic, regional and international markets. Through the Alliances for Action approach, it promotes inclusive and sustainable agricultural value chains that value all stakeholders from farm to shelf.
The Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF) (July 2021 – June 2025) is based on a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands and the International Trade Centre. The programme supports MSMEs in the digital technologies through its EcomConnect programme and agribusiness sectors through its Alliances for Action programme. Its ambition is two-fold: to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable transformation of food systems, partially through digital solutions, and drive the internationalization of tech start-ups and export of IT&BPO companies in selected Sub-Saharan African countries.
