Omanghana
Ghana has officially lost its long-held position as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, with Ecuador moving ahead in the global rankings following a sharp decline in Ghanaian cocoa output during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 harvest seasons.
While Côte d’Ivoire continues to dominate global cocoa production, Ghana’s production slump has reshaped the international cocoa market and raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of one of the country’s most important export industries.
Ecuador Rises as Global Cocoa Powerhouse
For decades, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana together accounted for nearly 60% of the world’s cocoa supply. However, Ecuador’s sustained investments in expanding production and cultivating high-yield, disease-resistant cocoa varieties, particularly the CCN-51 hybrid, have enabled it to surpass Ghana and secure the second position globally.
The latest shift in rankings places:
- Côte d’Ivoire as the world’s largest cocoa producer.
- Ecuador as the second-largest producer.
- Ghana in third place after a significant drop in production volumes.
Multiple Challenges Behind Ghana’s Production Decline
Ghana’s cocoa sector has been hit by a combination of agricultural, environmental, and economic challenges that have significantly reduced harvests.
One of the most damaging factors has been the spread of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease, which has infected extensive cocoa-growing areas and destroyed large numbers of mature trees, reducing productivity across key farming regions.
Illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, have also taken a heavy toll. Mining operations have degraded fertile farmland, polluted water sources, and encouraged some farmers to abandon cocoa cultivation in favor of mining-related opportunities.
Cross-border smuggling has further affected official production figures. Price differences and currency fluctuations have incentivized some producers to move cocoa beans into neighboring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, where returns may be more attractive.
In addition, adverse weather linked to El Niño conditions has disrupted growing cycles. Extended dry spells followed by heavy rains have damaged cocoa farms and reduced yields, with excessive moisture contributing to crop losses.
Global Cocoa Prices Reach Record Levels
The production challenges affecting West Africa have contributed to tightening global cocoa supplies, pushing international cocoa futures above the $10,000-per-metric-ton mark and increasing costs across the global chocolate industry.
The supply shortfall has underscored the importance of stable production in leading cocoa-producing countries and intensified efforts to improve resilience within the sector.
Government Pursues Recovery Measures
In response to the downturn, the Ghana Cocoa Board and the Ghanaian government have initiated programs aimed at revitalizing cocoa production. These include efforts to remove diseased trees, support nationwide replanting campaigns, and strengthen farm rehabilitation initiatives.
While these interventions are expected to improve long-term productivity, industry experts caution that restoring Ghana’s previous output levels will likely require several years as newly planted cocoa trees mature and broader structural challenges are addressed.
Source: Omanghana
