Ghana is making steady progress in shifting from raw exports to value-added products, with cocoa paste leading the charge in 2025 as the country’s top non-traditional export. Data from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority shows that cocoa paste generated $789.3 million, reflecting rising global demand for cocoa derivatives, especially in Europe, where they are widely used in chocolate and food processing. The strong performance signals Ghana’s growing ability to process more of its cocoa locally and capture higher value along the value chain.
Overall, non-traditional exports surged by 30.7 per cent to a record $5.006 billion, driven by strong performance across multiple product categories. Other cocoa products, including cocoa butter and powder, also posted impressive earnings, reinforcing the sector’s importance to Ghana’s export diversification strategy. Beyond cocoa, exports such as cashew nuts, plastics, canned tuna, and shea products contributed to growth, highlighting a broadening of the country’s export base beyond traditional commodities.
Manufactured and semi-processed goods accounted for over 83 per cent of earnings, underlining Ghana’s broader industrialisation push. The shift toward value-added exports is significant for economic development, as processing raw commodities domestically creates jobs, retains more value within the local economy, and reduces exposure to volatile global commodity prices. Cocoa paste, for example, commands higher prices than raw beans and provides a more stable revenue stream for producers and exporters.
From a regional perspective, Ghana’s success in cocoa processing offers lessons for other West African producers, including Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. By investing in local processing capacity, Ghana has reduced its reliance on raw commodity exports and built a more resilient trade profile. The record performance of non-traditional exports also supports Ghana’s balance of payments, providing foreign exchange to finance imports and service external debt. Sustaining this momentum will require continued investment in processing infrastructure, quality control, and market access.
