About Us
our story
Welcome to the Cocoa Club Ghana! We are a dynamic and engaging initiative dedicated to empowering the next generation by connecting them with the rich world of cocoa, from bean to bar. Our mission extends to promoting cocoa consumption and fostering a deep appreciation for the cocoa sector both within Ghana and across the globe.
Who we Are
Cocoa Club Ghana is an educational club established by Michael Owusu‑Manu in collaboration with the Abuakwa North Municipal G.E.S. Directorate. It’s a club of excellence for inculcating scientific attitude and insight into career opportunities within the cocoa sector.
The Visionary Behind Cocoa Club Ghana
Founder/Patron: Michael Owusu-Manu
Former Deputy Director, Social Science and Statistics Unit, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Ghana Cocoa Board
The Cocoa Club Ghana is a fun-based educational outreach program to empower pupils by connecting them with the cocoa from bean to bar and promoting cocoa consumption in Ghana and beyond. It is an opportunity for our younger generation to develop and promote their interest, realise their scientific skills and fulfill their quest in acquiring in-depth knowledge and information through activities in the cocoa sector. Its proposed to expand the create a Cocoa Club and expand to other schools, initially within the Tafo township and further through the Abuakwa North Municipal District, the Eastern Region and beyond after its well-grounded in its initial stages.
Mr. Owusu-Manu brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of the cocoa industry to this initiative. He is a seasoned expert in international development with a strong educational background in Agricultural Economics. His academic qualifications include an MSc in Agricultural Economics from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from Nova Scotia Agricultural College (Dalhousie University), Nova Scotia, Canada. He completed his Ordinary Level education at Opoku Ware School in Kumasi and Advanced Level education at Ofori Panin Secondary School.
Throughout his distinguished career, Michael Owusu-Manu has held several pivotal roles within Ghana’s agricultural sector and beyond:
His professional engagements have also included providing consultancy services for various agricultural-based projects. Mr. Owusu-Manu is actively involved in training and capacity building, having cautioned research officers at COCOBOD to adhere to road safety and health and safety policies, and participating in programs to enhance the skills of Monitoring and Evaluation Officers in the cocoa regions. He is also recognized for his efforts in encouraging youth to explore career opportunities in cocoa agribusiness, a message he emphasized during an educational tour involving over 300 students from CRIG Primary School and CRIG M/A JHS. He is sometimes referred to as “Mr. Cocoa.”
Our Foundation
Empowering communities through cocoa education and culture.
Mission — To inspire Ghana’s youth to explore the cocoa industry—from agricultural science to chocolate production—through experiential learning and educational outreach.
Vision — To be Ghana’s leading cocoa education and engagement club, nurturing future scientists, farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and chocolatiers.
Core Values
Education & Curiosity
Hands-on exploration of cocoa’s life cycle
Youth Empowerment
Encouraging interest in cocoa professions
Community Collaboration
Partnerships with schools and local education authorities
Cultural Celebration
Embracing cocoa’s heritage during events like Chocolate Month
The Rationale
Why Cocoa Club Ghana?
Connecting Youth with a Legacy
Cocoa has been the backbone of the Ghanaian economy for over a century. The Cocoa Industry has countless research developments credited to Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), a centre of excellence for developing sustainable, demand driven, cost-effective socially and environmentally acceptable technologies which enable stakeholders to realize the overall vision of the cocoa industry. A major objective of Ghana Cocoa Board is to make the cocoa industry lucrative, business-oriented and to attract more youth into cocoa farming as well as develop the downstream sector.
CRIG hosted over three hundred (300) pupils the CRIG Primary School and CRIG M/A JHS on an educational visit to equip themselves with first-hand knowledge about the history and activities of the research hub of the Cocoa Industry as part of their experience of the formation of a Club from October to November 2022. Its proposed to expand the create a Cocoa Club and expand to other schools, initially within the Tafo township and further through the Abuakwa North Municipal District, the Eastern Region and beyond after its well-grounded at its initial stages. Connecting youth with cocoa from bean to bar will shape their knowledge as well as introduce them to many career opportunities in the cocoa sector (i.e. farming, lab technicians, research assistants, scientists, entrepreneurs and many agribusinesses (agro-based enterprises)).
Benefits of Joining the Cocoa Club
Becoming a member of the Cocoa Club offers a wealth of personal and academic advantages:
Conclusion
Learning by doing and learning by living are two essentials of acquiring knowledge. Children are interested in trying new things and making things. The mainstream curriculum which is a formal, artificial and controlled atmosphere does not provide such opportunities. The Cocoa Club will cater for extracurricular activities for the children to express themselves freely in activities of genuine interest in the cocoa sector which also can supplement the work of the classroom and give the syllabus a practical dimension. Children need the opportunity to explore, generate new ideas, engage in constructive activities and independent enquiry, as well as have time for practical work. The club will be an outlet for innovation by learning more about cocoa and undertake small research and processing. Children will have the capability of doing more things out of their comfort zone. Children that are antisocial are given the opportunity to express themselves while practicing their social skills.