Ghana has taken the first step in the fight for African independence.
Last year, both Ghana and Ivory Coast halted the sale of cocoa to United States manufacturers. The nations accused the U.S. manufacturing giants Hershey’s and Mars of avoiding paying pensions that would help improve the economic fortunes of poor farmers.
The Ghanaian Cocoa Board issued a statement asserting that the world’s top chocolate sellers were not paying the living income needed to support their national workforce.
As usual, when Africans fight, they win.
The “trade war” ended in under 3 months, with Hershey’s and Mars admitting to their inital errors and agreeing to the new pay rates. It was also the second time in two years that the two Black nations forced manufacturers to concede on more beneficial trade deals. Additionally, Ghana’s move towards processing its own cocoa caused a world shortage which now allows the nation to better barter on the prices. In total the Ivory Coast & Ghana is responsible for nearly 60% of the world’s total cocoa production.
This year Ghana is taking it a step further, now banning the exportation of raw materials to Switzerland.
President Akufo-Addo told the Federal Council of Switzerland:
“Ghana is currently Switzerland’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, largely from the export of gold and cocoa to Switzerland and the import of chemical and pharmaceutical products…However, as I have stated on many occasions, Ghana no longer wants to be dependent on the production and export of raw materials, including cocoa beans. We intend to process more and more of our cocoa in our country with the aim of producing more chocolate ourselves.”
Africans worldwide give President Addo credit for putting the Family before petty business interest.
–Sylvester Loving, B1Daily
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