The Republic of Ghana in West Africa is bordered on the north by Burkina Faso, on the west by the Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire), on the south by the Gulf of Guinea and on the east by Togo. The name Ghana means "Warrior King" and comes from the ancient Ghana Empire.
Known predominantly as the world's second largest cocoa producer, Ghana is increasingly entering the coffee market. Ghana's relatively small coffee production made it the third smallest coffee producer in sub-Saharan Africa behind Liberia and the Central African Republic (which produce about 600 tons each annually).
The primary coffee plant varietal historically grown in Ghana is Robusta which is considered to be a lower grade coffee than Arabica. This is likely to be a persistent problem, as even at the highest points Ghana only reaches about 400 meters above sea level - well below the 1,200+ meters required for the best Arabica coffees to be grown. Robusta coffees however, will flourish at the lower elevations.
All are dwarfed by Ethiopia's Arabica coffee production of more than 250,000 tons in a single harvest season (typically from October to September). The only country to surpass Ghana in cocoa production is the Ivory Coast which picks about 132,000 tons of coffee in a harvest season.
Coffee
Around 2006 Ghana made efforts to double its green coffee production to 3,000 metric tons and expand acreage planted in coffee to nearly 5,000 acres. In 2010 the Ghana Cocoa Board (cocobod) hunkered down again and targeted 6,000 metrics tons by 2015, which it achieved. As of 2016, president Mahama has indicated he would be working to increase output to 100,000 metric tonnes in the "medium term", naming 2021 as the target date. This exponential growth requires massive investment not only in the farms themselves, but also the infrastructure to support it and outreach to promote it.
This sort of planned volume would put Ghana in a competitive position in the international coffee market. Selectively putting their best coffees into competitions would help get it recognized as a producer to be taken seriously by third-wave coffee shops in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Regions
The regions being targeted for growth are those that wouldn't directly compete for cocoa production - their primary cash crop - and are labeled "marginal" for cocoa production. The idea being that while cocoa requires between 1,200 mm to 2,000 mm of rainfall anually, coffee can be grown with as little as 1,000 mm with supplemental irrigation.
The regions include:
- Volta
- Eastern and Central areas of Ashanti and Brong Ahafo
- Techiman
- Wenchi
- Nkoranza
- Drobo
- Jamasi
- Kete Krachi
- Dambai
- Atebubu
- Akomadan
- Offinso
- Bechem
It's hoped that if the 2021 target can be reached using high-yield, early-maturing coffee seeds, growth can continue through 2030 to 200,000 metric tonnes.
Facts
Ghana is aiming for a yield of 2-3 metric tonnes of green coffee beans per hectare, with 100,000 hectares planted by 2020.
In 2016 the government has purchased and is managing 5,000,000 seedlings selected for high-yields and early-maturation, which it will distribute for free to farmers.
In the 1997-1998 harvest season Ghana exported 10,000 metric tons but then exports declined due to various causes including a poor pricing policy as well as declining world coffee market prices.
Emmanuel Amoah says
Hi, i am a Ghanaian, i have a contact that would like to buy coffee in large quantities for export.
Suzanne Harvey says
Looking to purchase Ghanaian coffee, to sell in Ireland, any suppliers please.
Andrej says
Hello,
I am located in Ukraine and look for coffee beans from Ghana. I have access to several companies in Ukraine which are interested to purchase coffee beans from Ghana. Let know if any interests persist.
Best regards,
Andrej S.
Issac osarfo says
I am a coffee farmer and leaves in a coffee growing community which have problem of selling our produce.
Adriana says
How much is one bag
Yaw says
Kindly contact me on any information relating to coffee production. I am into coffee plantation and we want more buyers in large quantities. I would be happy to hear from anyone. Thank you
Ishan says
Hello Yaw, I am looking out for finest coffee beans from Ghana..I would like to connect with you ASAP with all the further information on production, supply, export. Thank you
Emmanuel Amoah says
I want to know the quality of the coffee and the price of one bag. .is one bag 64kg? please I need the information now. .because I want to buy more.
Patricia Wallace says
Hello, I'm African American, but will like to keep up with any information pertaining to the coffee in Ghana. Would like to also show my support and invest. Please send more information.
Mervis says
Hi, i am a Ghanaian, i have a contact that would like to buy coffee in large quantities for export. Shelled and unshell.
Julian says
I would like to go into coffee production here in Ghana, would be really helpful if I get some details about it. Thank you
Benedicta says
I have a contact who wants to export coffee to Ghana. Is there a market for this? I would be grateful if you can contact me so we get the coffee to Ghana. I would also like to know what we can make out of coffee aside the beverage.
Kerry says
i would like to invest in coffee production and also export coffee to Mexico.
Please, I need direction on how to get FCO CIF or FOB for Coffee. Please i need information on permit, tax related and regulations in the coffee industry. I hope to hear from anyone who would like to assist in above.
Thanks
John Kipo says
How much a bulk bag of coffee is in Ghana, currently? Are they 60kg or 70kg?
prince says
i would like to get more information about coffee produced in ghana and their details. can some one help me out. princeamoa@yahoo.it
jean Pierre says
In Case you would like to do business in Ghana please send me a mail at: diassouka@gmail.Com
Cosmos yao kweku says
Greetings,
Can i be your agent in Ghana and Togo for supply of coffee .
May you revert
Gus says
I want to visit a plantation in Ghana!
Sian says
Hello!
I'm a gourmet coffee distributor and I'm looking for anyone interested in getting a special Jamaican Coffee into Central Europe/Russia/South African luxury markets. Please contact me if interested.
bismark cudjoe says
i would like to invest in coffee production and also export coffee to central europe.
Please any advice, guidance. Please i need information on permit, tax related issues and regulations in the coffee industry. I hope to hear from anyone who would like to assist in above.
Thanks
Ilvio Cuculo says
Hi ,my name is Ilvio and am a Canadian doing business in Accra, Ghana our company is in the process to deal with the Government of Ghana to have the authority in all the Plantation of coffee we are looking for investors .
Marcello Gallano says
I will like to contact ghanian coffe producers to import into south africa coffe in grane.
kind regards
Bene says
Contact me on any information.
Louis says
More info please?