Costly Mistakes, Declining Fortunes; At Whose Detriment: An Assessment of Cocoa Cultivation in Ghana

Abstract

The growth and capacity of the world’s economy has been fueled by its resource forte. Within local economies, the variations in growth and development can be potted on the basis of a country’s resource utilization and management skills; a common feature of resource crunch. This study explores the causes and the dimensions of the decline in cocoa cultivation in Ghana. The study also examines how national revenue and rural livelihoods in Ghana are dissipating as a result of the decline in cocoa cultivation. Purposive and Random sampling were applied in the selection of individuals, communities, cocoa farmers and cocoa farms for the study. Both primary and secondary data were collected. The study revealed that cocoa cultivation in Ghana is plagued with several problems to the extent that rural livelihoods and national economic wealth are dying out. Export volumes have dropped by 25.7% and government revenue from cocoa has also declined by 33.2%. The study also revealed that about four (4) million people are at the verge of losing their livelihood if current trends in cocoa cultivation continue. The study recommends the commercialisation of cocoa cultivation in Ghana as a way of managing loses and dealing with the problem of capital injection. Law enforcement, transportation, education, training and road infrastructure improvements are required in order to boost growth and cocoa cultivation in Ghana.

Keywords: Cocoa, Cultivation, Farmers, Livelihood, National Revenue