Forging New Frontiers in Cocoa Trade: CMC MD Dr Wisdom Dogbey Deepens Industry Ties with OFI
In a move that underscores a new era of industrial diplomacy and strategic trade alignment, Dr Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, the recently appointed Managing Director of the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), paid a working visit to OFI Food Ingredients, one of Ghana’s largest processors and exporters of cocoa paste, at their high-capacity facility in Kumasi.
The visit, which featured both executive-level talks and a detailed factory tour, marks the first of what CMC hopes will be a series of deepening partnerships between Ghana’s cocoa export apparatus and major global supply chain actors.
“As two leading entities in the cocoa sector, we have a unique opportunity to work together not only to grow our companies but also to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s economic transformation,” Dr Dogbey remarked during his interaction with OFI’s leadership.
The significance of this visit extends beyond symbolism. With global cocoa prices experiencing volatility due to climate impacts and evolving trade dynamics, Dr Dogbey’s mission reflects a broader attempt to insulate Ghana’s cocoa value chain through closer collaboration, technological innovation, and sustainable practices.
Recalibrating Trade Relations in Cocoa
At the heart of the CMC-OFI engagement were discussions around quality enhancement, operational synergy, and the leveraging of digital technologies to streamline supply chain processes. OFI, known for its vertically integrated model and sustainable sourcing initiatives, is a key buyer of Ghanaian cocoa, making it a strategic partner for CMC’s broader commercial objectives.
“We are committed to ensuring that our cocoa beans are sourced responsibly and that our farmers are supported in their endeavours,” Dr Dogbey said as he toured OFI’s high-tech warehousing system, a subtle nod to Ghana’s push for traceable, ethically sourced beans amid growing scrutiny in international markets.
With sustainability becoming a core concern in Europe and North America, key destinations for Ghana’s cocoa, both parties recognised the mutual value in aligning sustainability goals. OFI’s corporate social responsibility programmes, which emphasise farmer welfare, biodiversity protection, and supply chain transparency, mirror CMC’s renewed focus under Dr Dogbey’s leadership.
From Beans to Impact: Reimagining Value
Behind the conversations on beans and barrels was a deeper narrative: how Ghana can reclaim greater value from its cocoa sector. Despite being the world’s second-largest producer, Ghana earns a fraction of the final retail value of chocolate products. Strategic partnerships like the one emerging between CMC and OFI may help correct that imbalance.
“We must continuously seek new ways to enhance our products and services, ensuring that we remain competitive on the world stage,” Dr Dogbey said, acknowledging the role of innovation not just in processing but in repositioning Ghana as a high-value player in the global cocoa economy.
By tapping into OFI’s global reach and expertise, CMC is signalling that it is not content to be a passive bean supplier. It seeks to be an active co-creator of value, from farmgate to factory floor to final product.
A Sector Ripe for Reform
This engagement also comes at a time when Ghana’s cocoa sector is grappling with a complex mix of challenges: smuggling, price volatility, climate-induced crop failure, and questions over farmer remuneration. Dr Dogbey’s visit, his first major industry-facing public gesture, sends a clear message: Ghana must forge alliances that go beyond transactional supply.
“It is not just about moving products,” one OFI executive noted. “It’s about building ecosystems that support farmers, drive efficiency, and meet the growing ethical expectations of global consumers.”
This renewed relationship with OFI, if deepened, could serve as a blueprint for how Ghana engages its other top-tier cocoa clients, not simply as a commodity source but as a strategic partner in shaping the future of sustainable agribusiness.
Outlook: Beyond Diplomacy, Towards Results
The visit concluded with both companies reaffirming a shared vision for a more resilient cocoa sector. For Dr Dogbey and his team at CMC, the road ahead involves more than goodwill; it will demand execution, from policy reform and pricing models to digitisation and climate-smart farming practices.
But this step, modest as it may seem, signals momentum.
As Ghana looks to reassert its role not only as a cocoa producer but as a value-added hub, collaborations like the CMC-OFI relationship could be the catalyst the sector needs.
