Coffee Production in Ghana, situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, lies just a few degrees north of the equator. It shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
Globally, Ghana is best known as the second-largest cocoa producer. However, the country also cultivates coffee, though it ranks 42nd in production, alongside nations like Angola and Sierra Leone. To dive deeper into Ghana’s growing coffee industry, I spoke with two regional coffee experts. They shared insights on the current state of the sector and what the future may hold for this emerging coffee origin. Continue reading to explore more.
Tracing the History of Coffee Production in Ghana
Robusta coffee Production is native to West and Central Africa, with the earliest records of organized coffee cultivation in Ghana dating back to the mid-18th century. Despite over 250 years of history, Ghana’s coffee production remains relatively small. Coffee thrived in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a price crash in the 1980s led many farmers to abandon coffee in favor of cocoa.
In response, the Ghanaian government established 19 nationalized coffee farms in the 1980s, which were later divided and sold to private farmers. As demand grew and the domestic coffee market strengthened, farmers found renewed hope. In 2001, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) facilitated the development of 2,400 hectares of new or revitalized coffee farmland.
COCOBOD also implemented fair and minimum pricing for Ghanaian coffee Production, offering more financial security for farmers. In the early 21st century, the government initiated an aggressive expansion plan, doubling national coffee yields from 2006 to 2010, and again from 2010 to 2015.
Additionally, in 2014, the Ghanaian government launched the Coffee Production Rehabilitation Program (CRP), focusing on research, extension services, and introducing high-yield coffee varieties. The program has since provided technical and financial assistance to over 4,500 smallholder farmers, 22% of whom are women.
Despite these efforts, the effects of the 1980s price collapse linger, leaving Ghana as the third smallest coffee producer in sub-Saharan Africa, behind Liberia and the Central African Republic. However, coffee Production is becoming an attractive alternative for smallholder farmers, as it grows faster and is easier to manage than cocoa.
Ghanaian Coffee Today: A Growing Industry
Benedicta Tamakloe, founder of Bean Masters, a Ghanaian coffee company focused on ethical sourcing, aims to support farmers and elevate the quality of Ghanaian coffee.
“Ghana isn’t globally recognized as a coffee producer,” Benedicta explains. “This is mainly due to our low production volumes. To gain international recognition, you need significant output, which we haven’t achieved yet.”
She adds, “We once grew Arabica coffee Production in the mountains, but the climate and elevation favored Robusta. The amount of Arabica planted was too small to have any real economic impact.” Cillian Walsh, owner of Gold Coast Roasters, a company committed to sourcing high-quality Arabica and Robusta beans from West Africa, agrees. He notes that Ghana’s coffee production sharply declined after the 1980s crash.
“It’s not just the altitude that limits production,” Cillian says. “Insect infestations and diseases also make Arabica less viable. We’re exploring organic farming methods to overcome these challenges.”
In recent years, part of the government’s expansion plan has included distributing free seedlings to farmers. Cillian is also optimistic about the growing domestic coffee consumption and the emergence of a local roasting industry, marked by the formation of the Coffee Roasters Association of Ghana (CRAG).
Ghanaian Coffee: A Comprehensive Profile
Nearly all coffee produced in Ghana is Robusta, as the country’s low-altitude terrain and climate are unsuitable for Arabica cultivation. Most of Ghana’s farmland is located between 400 and 800 meters above sea level, which is too low for growing high-quality Arabica beans. Coffee Production is primarily grown in the Ashanti, Bono Ahafo, Eastern, Central, Western, and Volta regions, with harvests beginning in September. The country produces approximately 37,000 60kg bags of coffee annually.
The majority of Ghanaian coffee producers are smallholder farmers, averaging around 300kg of coffee cherries per hectare. Farms typically range from half an acre to 1.5 acres in size, although there are a few larger farms that yield around 1,500kg per hectare. The coffee is typically naturally processed, sun-dried on raised beds (often used for drying cocoa), and sold at mills or hulling centers.
In total, about 17,000 hectares of land are dedicated to coffee farming in Ghana, providing a primary source of income for around 8,000 smallholder farmers. Many of these farmers have entered the industry in recent years, spurred by COCOBOD’s expansion initiatives. Although Ghanaian Robusta isn’t widely recognized as “fine” Robusta, some producers believe quality improvements are achievable. With a growing market and increasing production volumes, there is optimism that the Ghanaian coffee Production sector can experience a revival.
Coffee Organizations and Industry Structure in Ghana
In addition to regulating cocoa, COCOBOD also oversees the production of coffee and shea in Ghana. Since its establishment in 1947, COCOBOD has focused on promoting growth and development in these sectors. Its efforts span research and development, seedling production, technical support, inspection, and certification, as well as marketing Ghanaian coffee internationally.
Since the 1980s, COCOBOD has concentrated on reviving Ghana’s coffee industry, making steady progress over the years.
Ghana also has a few farmer groups, some of which operate as cooperatives. As Benedicta explains, many of these cooperatives are community-based. “One example is the Sustainable Coffee Farmers Association,” she notes. “This association has five cooperatives, with one entirely composed of women.” Despite these efforts, Cillian points out that coffee production in Ghana remains fragmented. His company is part of one of several local organizations and sources coffee from around 50 different farmers through these networks.
Building International Reputation & Elevating Coffee Quality in Ghana
Much of Ghana’s coffee is sold within West Africa and often doesn’t appear in official export statistics. Beyond its neighboring countries, Ghanaian coffee remains relatively unknown, and its pricing is heavily influenced by the larger production figures in Togo and Côte d’Ivoire. Locally, Ghanaian coffee is sold to roasters who face competition from imported coffee. Even in the domestic market, coffee struggles with challenges, largely tied to quality.
For instance, Benedicta explains that farmers typically strip harvest their coffee, regardless of the cherries’ ripeness. She and other advocates are working to train farmers to hand-pick only the ripest cherries, aiming to improve both quality and pricing.
“As for processing, it’s primarily just natural sun-drying,” she says. “Farmers use cocoa drying beds in their backyards to dry coffee in the sun, covering it at night. Once dried, they bag the coffee in sacks for storage.”
Benedicta and her team are seeking expertise to introduce new processing methods and create a niche market for Ghanaian coffee. “There’s a limited market for sun-dried Robusta, so we’re looking for partnerships to explore alternative processing techniques,” she adds. After sun drying, farmers take their coffee to hulling centers to sell. While COCOBOD imposes minimum quality standards and mandates licensing for all those involved in the marketing of coffee, challenges persist.
“Some of the coffee suffers from infestations like the coffee berry borer, which lowers both quality and price,” Benedicta notes. “Additionally, the moisture content can vary significantly.”
Cillian adds, “The Roasters’ Association is working to promote Robusta as a specialty product in Ghana, but the lack of quality standardization is a major obstacle. The small amount of coffee Production that is exported mostly comes from a few large growers, who sell it as low-grade Robusta.” Farmers are being encouraged to adopt better practices, such as selective hand-picking, proper storage, and improved drying techniques on dedicated raised beds, to achieve higher prices and improve the reputation of Ghanaian coffee.
Coffee Consumption in Ghana: Trends and Growth
Despite the challenges in coffee production, both Benedicta and Cillian observe a rising trend in coffee consumption within Ghana, indicating a growing domestic market for local producers.
“Many Ghanaians have developed a taste for coffee from abroad,” Benedicta explains. “They’re returning home and bringing that experience with them, which is driving an increase in coffee consumption.”
This shift is evident in urban areas, particularly in Accra, where the number of coffee Production shops is steadily rising. Additionally, a small yet rapidly expanding group of local roasters is emerging, roasting and packaging their coffee to sell both domestically and in neighboring countries like Burkina Faso.
“At Gold Coast, we’re working to add value to our coffee Production in partnership with hoteliers,” Cillian shares. “A great example is coffee ice cream. We’re also collaborating with chefs in Canada and Ghana to develop coffee-based flavorings for meals and sauces.”
The Future of Ghanaian Coffee: What’s Next?
According to Benedicta, the main obstacle to Ghanaian coffee production lies in the lack of technical knowledge.
“The foundational knowledge and understanding are in place, but we lack the technical expertise to implement it effectively,” she explains. “There’s limited access to technical know-how throughout the Ghanaian coffee value chain.”
She also highlights the need for standardization, saying, “We’re introducing the cooperative model to achieve uniform standards across the sector. However, access to finance remains a significant challenge, and investments in the coffee industry are scarce. The sector hasn’t yet been made attractive enough for investors.”
Despite these challenges, there is optimism that with continued government efforts, Ghanaian coffee Production will grow and begin to contribute more significantly to the national economy. As the industry strengthens, domestic coffee consumption is expected to increase as well. Cillian adds, “We’re actively working on improving the quality of Robusta coffee by adopting the Kenyan grading method and offering better prices to farmers who produce higher quality beans.”
While Ghana currently lacks a dedicated coffee farmers’ association, COCOBOD is in the process of establishing a division focused on supporting the coffee sector. This division will likely prioritize research, development, and market regulation, ultimately improving outcomes for coffee producers across the country. Overall, there is significant potential for growth in Ghana’s coffee sector, and stakeholders are collaborating to propel the industry forward. Positive changes are already underway, and the goal of improving coffee quality seems within reach.
Better harvesting techniques, improved agricultural practices, and more refined processing methods are becoming increasingly prominent. If these efforts continue, many are confident that Ghana will soon elevate its status as a notable coffee origin.
“We aim to plant over 150 acres this year,” Cillian shares. “The government plans to produce more than three million seedlings. It’s a strong starting point. With the right regulations on standardization and quality, I believe Ghana’s coffee sector has a bright future ahead.”
