Goldstar Air To Help Improve Livelihood Of The Ghanaian Cocoa Farmer

News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Ike Dzokpo, https://www.newsghana.com.gh/goldstar-air-to-help-improve-livelihood-of-the-ghanaian-cocoa-farmer/

Private international airline Goldstar Air, Ghanaian and United States registered company with an issued Air Carrier Licence (ACL/N-SCH No. 0239) from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to operate passenger and cargo flights across West Africa and intercontinental routes, is committed to add value to help reset Ghana’s major cash crop, cocoa, to make a significant impact on the country’s economy through the airline’s Project $1 Trillion Foreign Reserves Initiative that will improve the livelihood of the farmer.

The airline will proudly support Ghana’s cocoa farmers by providing simple equipment to process cocoa beans into powder, boosting local processing, adding value to their produce and increasing their earnings. This initiative will boost cocoa powder production for the airline’s signature Golden Tree Chocolate Bar, which will be offered to every passenger on board, along with a complimentary cup of hot chocolate, enhancing the in-flight experience and transition Ghana from a raw material exporter to a producer of a value-added goods that will command higher prices internationally.

Goldstar Air has sought for international intervention to look into the issuance of the airline’s wide-body aircraft Safety Certificate (AOC) and waiting for the outcome, as the process is above halfway and it has been over eight years that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority is not ready to get a qualified third-party to complete the remaining phases of the certification process. The completion of the certificate will enable the change of the wide-body aircraft nationality, allowing it to be registered under the Ghana Registry (State of Registry).

The airline is the economic tool to reset Ghana’s economy by spearheading a shift from import dependence to 24-hour export-led industrialization. Therefore, there is no need to delay the issuance of the airline’s Safety Certificate to start the 24-hour economy and create over two million direct and indirect job opportunities for Ghanaians. The Ghanaian youth cannot wait any longer in the ghettos, they need their well-paying jobs.

Ghanaian cocoa farmers have long been the backbone of the country’s economy, contributing significantly to global chocolate production and sustaining livelihoods across rural communities. However, despite their crucial role, many cocoa farmers face numerous challenges, including low incomes, climate change impacts, pests and diseases, land tenure issues. inadequate transportation infrastructure and limited access to international markets. Goldstar Air emerges, as a transformative force to help improve livelihood of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer.

Ghana’s inability to produce billionaires, despite being a leading exporter of gold and cocoa for over 100 years of exporting these products. It is therefore unfortunate that this level of resource export has not translated into widespread wealth creation. To address this, Ghana must move towards value addition in cocoa processing to tap into global manufacturing income streams, valued at $16.182 Trillion. Targeting just 1.8571 percent of this amount would be sufficient to significantly improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. With this initiative, Ghana can create homegrown billionaires who can reinvest in the local economy, creating a positive ripple effect and generating employment opportunities for the youth.

Goldstar Air, the wings of Ghana and belly of America is dedicated to supporting and revitalizing the cocoa industry by positioning Golden Tree Chocolates as a recognizable brand identity. Hot chocolate drinks and one compulsory chocolate bar as dessert and souvenir will be served on board all flights. This inflight policy underscores the airline’s commitment, leveraging its aviation expertise to create a more efficient supply chain, transition from a raw material export model to one focused on value addition and enhance the overall well-being of cocoa farmers.

The official export of cocoa from Ghana began in 1893, with just two bags exported. Ghana once produced nearly half of the world’s cocoa output. Between 1910 and 1980, the country was the world’s largest exporter of cocoa. This position was later ceded due to bushfires, illegal mining, and the smuggling of cocoa beans to neighboring countries. Nevertheless, Ghana’s cocoa remains among the highest quality globally, and the nation continues to earn hundreds of millions of dollars annually from cocoa exports.

Cocoa farming is deeply rooted in Ghana’s culture and history, with generations of families dedicating their lives to the industry. However, the lack of modernization and technological advancement has made it difficult for farmers to compete on a global scale. Studies suggest that Ghana’s cocoa farmers are not fully utilizing technological innovations in their production, and their increased output is unsustainable. Goldstar Air aims to support a shift from the export of raw cocoa beans by introducing digital innovations that will revolutionize the cocoa supply chain.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) must now establish cocoa processing factories in every cocoa-producing region. This will enable the country to add value to raw beans and access the lucrative global manufacturing market. Various machines are used in cocoa processing, including roasting machines, peeling and grinding machines, hydraulic presses, and powder-making machines. Cocoa beans are first roasted to develop flavor. The outer shell is then removed using peeling and grinding machines and convert the beans into a paste. Hydraulic presses extract cocoa butter, leaving behind a press cake, which is further ground to produce cocoa powder.

Cocoa processing also yields several valuable byproducts, including cocoa pod husks, cocoa pulp, and cocoa bean shells. These byproducts can be repurposed for various uses such as animal feed, organic fertilizer, and sources of bioactive compounds. Specifically, cocoa pod husks can be processed into potash, compost, and animal feed, cocoa pulp can be transformed into soft drinks, wine, or vinegar; and cocoa bean shells, though often discarded, contain nutrients and bioactive elements suitable for multiple applications.

Goldstar Air’s 24/7 service support for local cocoa processing will positively impact the national economy. By reducing the export of raw cocoa beans and encouraging value-added production, this initiative presents a win-win scenario for all stakeholders, including farmers, processors, exporters, and the nation as a whole.

During an interview with a television station in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey, noted that Ghana is likely to miss its cocoa production target for the 2024/2025 crop season. According to him, the target for the season was 610,000 tonnes, but COCOBOD has currently raised only 590,000 tonnes, and he is unsure whether that figure will change before the end of the season.

Dr. Abbey emphasized that not much is expected to change, considering the limited time left in the crop season. He stated, “We could produce about 600,000 metric tonnes at most, looking at the fact that we are now doing the light crop season, and we do not see things turning around that much.” He also added that his administration is working to save COCOBOD from the GHS 33 billion debt he inherited. “We are hoping that within four years, the books will be looking good, in terms of returning COCOBOD to some good profits,” he said.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced that the producer price of cocoa will remain unchanged for the 2025/2026 season, despite regional price adjustments and ongoing market volatility. In a letter dated April 8, 2025, addressed to the Licensed Cocoa Buyers’ Association of Ghana (LICOBAG), COCOBOD explained that the decision was based on a comprehensive evaluation of the operational and financial outlook for the cocoa industry.

Goldstar Air will introduce an integrated platform to support Ghanaian exporters of agricultural products who are registered with COCOBOD and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA). Through this initiative, the airline will offer free advertising space to participating companies in in-flight magazines, on its digital platforms, and on screens during takeoff and landing. The airline also aims to partner with local processing companies to ensure that a significant portion of Ghana’s cocoa beans are processed locally into cocoa powder for both export and local consumption.

According to the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldstar Air, Eric Bannerman, the global demand for high-quality chocolate continues to rise, presenting an opportunity for Ghanaian cocoa farmers to expand their market reach. The airline’s strategic partnerships with international chocolate manufacturers, retailers, and investors will open new doors for Ghanaian cocoa in lucrative markets. By positioning Ghana as a leader in premium cocoa production, the airline seeks to enhance the country’s economic stability and global influence. These partnerships will also create new business opportunities for local entrepreneurs, from cocoa-based product manufacturing to artisanal chocolate production.

The saying “Cocoa is Ghana; Ghana is Cocoa” portrays the important role cocoa plays in the economy of Ghana, one of the largest cocoa-producing countries, supplying around 20% of the world’s cocoa. Cocoa is vital to the national economy, accounting for 15% of GDP and employing approximately 800,000 farm families across six of Ghana’s sixteen regions.

The person directly responsible for the introduction of cocoa to Ghana was Tetteh Quarshie, born in 1842 to a farmer from Teshie named Mlekubo and mother was known as Ashong-Fio from Labadi, both hailing from the Ga-Dangme ethnic group. He was an agriculturalist in the British Colony of the Gold Coast, which today constitutes modern Ghana. The Gold Coast became Ghana in 1957. Tetteh Quarshie traveled to the island of Fernando Po (now Bioko in Equatorial Guinea) in 1870 and returned in 1876 with cocoa seeds to introduce the crop to Ghana. He died on Christmas Day in 1892.

The Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, also known as the Ecomuseum of Cocoa, is the founding cocoa farm in Ghana. It is located in Akuapim-Mampong, about 58 km from Accra. Tetteh Quarshie established the farm in 1879 using seeds brought back from Bioko, Equatorial Guinea. Three trees planted by Quarshie still remain at the farm. The farm, currently about one acre in size, is managed by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana.

The global chocolate industry is worth over $150 Billion and is expected to exceed $180 Billion by 2026. However, the two leading West African producers of cocoa, Ghana and Ivory Coast receive less than $6 Billion of this value. Therefore, Goldstar Air aims to foster collaboration with cocoa industry experts to enhance chocolate manufacturing processes and increase production for export.

Goldstar Air’s strategic initiative to serve Ghana’s finest Golden Tree chocolate on board its flights will automatically elevate the product’s value and drive high demand in duty-free shops worldwide. This will enable the product to tap deeper into the $150+ Billion global chocolate market and align with the airline’s Project $1 Trillion Foreign Reserves initiative.

The airline’s commitment to support Ghana’s cocoa industry aligns with its 24-hour service Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to help the cocoa farmers and expects the farmer to be on the farm 24/7 to produce more beans and tap more into the One hundred and fifty billion dollars ($150B) global chocolate income. Value addition and industrialization are key to Ghana’s development; therefore, the country’s export sector is being urged by the airline to devote all their efforts to adding value to their products and services to optimize gains in revenue generation. Cocoa futures traded in New York broke record after record yearly.

The country gains low returns, when Ghana export raw cocoa beans, but when added value to the product, the gains are higher than when you export the raw beans. This initiative by adding value to the products will significantly bring more foreign exchange to Ghana.

Creating a thriving agricultural sector across the country will bring more crops for transportation by air and create jobs for Goldstar Air cargo department and it is part of the airline’s over two million direct and indirect job opportunities for Ghanaians.

According to the United Nations, the global agriculture sector contributes over $3.5 Trillion annually, accounting for 4% of the world’s GDP and 27% of total global employment.

The airline will enhance the value of the crop which Ghana has a competitive advantage enhancing sustainability in the industry and overcoming critical challenges to ensure the prosperity of cocoa farmers and the longevity of Ghana’s cocoa sector.

The airline will enhance cargo movement across the continent under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative. The continent possesses the resources to make significant economic strides, and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area aims to eliminate trade barriers, representing a significant opportunity for Africa to assert itself on the global economic stage. Each year, more than 52 billion tons of cargo are shipped by air, creating a constant demand for industry jobs.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced its financial outlook for the global airline industry in 2025, indicating a slight strengthening of profitability despite ongoing cost and supply chain challenges. Total industry revenues are projected to reach $1.007 Trillion, an increase of 4.4% from 2024 and this will mark the first time that industry revenues surpass the $1 Trillion threshold. Expenses are expected to grow by 4.0% to $940 Billion. Passenger numbers are expected to reach 5.2 billion in 2025, representing a 6.7% increase compared to 2024 and the first time that global passenger numbers exceed five billion. Cargo volumes are forecast to reach 72.5 million tonnes, a 5.8% increase from 2024.

Mr. Bannerman emphasized that education is fundamental to the long-term success of Ghana’s cocoa industry. Goldstar Air will implement educational programs focused on agricultural entrepreneurship, encouraging young people to view cocoa farming as a viable and profitable career path. By inspiring the next generation to adopt innovation and technology in agriculture, the airline aims to ensure that Ghana’s cocoa sector remains competitive. These educational initiatives will also stress the importance of sustainability, ethical trade, and climate resilience.

Cocoa smuggling has significantly reduced the volume of cocoa that the Ghanaian government can sell to foreign buyers, thereby limiting the amount of foreign currency it receives. Cocoa exports have traditionally provided a consistent and reliable flow of foreign currency to Ghana’s national reserves. COCOBOD estimated that Ghana lost 200,000 and 150,000 metric tonnes of cocoa to smuggling in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Cocoa smuggling was a contributing factor to the cocoa crisis of 2024.

According to the Ghana Forestry Commission, a government agency, nearly 80% of Ghana’s forest resources were lost to illegal logging operations between 1990 and 2016. While this loss cannot be entirely attributed to cocoa production, the sector remains a leading cause of deforestation in Ghana. Global Forest Watch (GFW), using advanced remote sensing and satellite data, reported a 60% increase in primary rainforest loss in Ghana from 2017 to 2018, the highest rate globally during that period. Neighboring Côte d’Ivoire recorded a 28% increase, the second highest. Together, these two countries produce nearly two-thirds of the world’s cocoa, and much of the forest loss is due to cocoa farming, both legal and illegal.

Destroying cocoa farms to make way for mining or logging must not be permitted, as cocoa plays a vital role in Ghana’s economic development. As one of the backbones of the economy, the destruction of this sector could lead to broader economic instability.

The washing and discharge of waste into rivers by illegal miners is also degrading river channels. If this environmental degradation continues over the next ten to twenty years, Ghana’s forests could turn into deserts, and access to clean water may become a critical challenge. The country may even be forced to import water.

The Cocoa and Forests Initiative is a landmark agreement between the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and more than thirty-seven major cocoa and chocolate companies. Its purpose is to end deforestation and replenish the trees and forests that have been destroyed as a result of the cocoa production in the area. Between 1988 and 2007, more than 2.3 million hectares of rainforest were cleared in Ivory Coast and Ghana for cocoa farms. The initiative, announced at the UN Climate Change Conference in November 2017, commits stakeholders to no further conversion of natural forests to land for cocoa production in West Africa.

The resurgence of illegal mining has had devastating effects on cocoa production. Communities such as Dinkyiea in the Adansi North District, which were once cocoa production hubs, have lost arable land to illegal mining activities. The cocoa sector has lost an estimated 190,000 acres of farmland to galamsey operations. These losses have occurred either through land encroachment or because farmers, driven by poverty or lack of support, have leased their lands to illegal miners. Beyond the loss of land, galamsey has also polluted water bodies, limiting access to clean water essential for farming.

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) must shift its financing strategy by moving away from its long-standing reliance on external syndicated loans. For more than three decades, COCOBOD has depended on annual syndicated loans from international banks. This replaced domestic borrowing through Cocoa Bills, which had become costly. A shift to self-financing, initially through local sources and later through profits would eliminate interest and associated costs, potentially saving Ghana around $150 Million every year.

This new strategy would allow COCOBOD to finance cocoa purchases locally and increase the speed at which cocoa receipts are remitted into the country. This could help stabilize the Ghanaian cedi. With international borrowing rates rising above 8% in recent years, transitioning to local financing is both timely and strategic.

COCOBOD’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Randy Abbey, has warned about the potential collapse of Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), especially the indigenous ones. The absence of a syndicated loan for the 2025/2026 season has resulted in no seed fund being allocated to the LBCs, which is crucial for purchasing cocoa beans from farmers. Dr. Abbey stressed that this situation is causing significant distress for local operators, who are unable to function effectively without this initial capital.

Goldstar Air is not just a means of transportation but a powerful economic tool for Ghana, that will support the development of a systematic approach within the cocoa industry and enhance value chain development by addressing the root causes of market underperformance. Through a collaborative approach in providing integrated solutions to the sector’s challenges, the airline aims to increase the industry’s contribution to socio-economic development. This strategy holds the key to boosting profitability and productivity while ensuring long-term sustainability by enabling the sector to withstand disruptions, backed by a reliable and efficient transportation solution for processed cocoa products.

The expansion of regional operations will make Ho, the capital of the Volta Region, a 24-hour industrial zone and a key economic driver for tourism and agribusiness in the region. Additionally, Hajj and charter flights to and from Saudi Arabia will further boost agricultural business opportunities in the Volta Region.

Wa, the capital of the Upper West Region, will benefit from charter flights that will help existing businesses expand and attract new enterprises to the area. The Agrarian City will also experience direct Hajj flights to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region, will serve as a key hub for the airline’s maintenance base, global cargo hub, specialized catering services, and aviation training school. Plans are underway to launch international flights to and from the Sahel region, along with Hajj flights to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, will initially enjoy international flights to destinations such as Rome, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Düsseldorf, Milan, as well as Hajj flights to and from Saudi Arabia.

Ghana’s capital city, the Greater Accra Region flights shall include destinations such as Washington, Dubai, Lagos, Toronto, Monrovia, Conakry, Abidjan, Guangzhou, Dakar, Banjul, Rhode Island, London, and Freetown. Additional pending destinations include Miami (Florida), Atlanta (Georgia), Chicago (Illinois), Glasgow (Scotland), Houston (Texas), and many more.

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News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Ike Dzokpo, https://www.newsghana.com.gh/goldstar-air-to-help-improve-livelihood-of-the-ghanaian-cocoa-farmer/

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