Upcoming
Launch of the Chamber of Cocoa Marketers
Who We Are
The Voice of Ghana’s Cocoa Marketers
The Chamber of Cocoa Marketers – Ghana is the primary institutional authority representing Licensed Buying Companies and allied value chain actors nationwide.
Formerly the Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana (LICOBAG), the Chamber connects smallholder farming communities, financial institutions, regulators and global partners within a single governance framework. Our members drive internal cocoa purchasing, uphold premium quality standards, and secure supply chain sustainability across Ghana.
About the ChamberLicensed Cocoa Buyers
Level A and Level B LBCs executing primary aggregation and internal trade.
Processors
Industrial and secondary processors adding value to raw beans.
Financial & Allied Partners
Financial institutions, input suppliers, logistics and research bodies.
Global Cocoa Stakeholders
International off-takers, regulators and development partners.
Our Values
These five values define our work
- 01More on Policy Leadership & Advocacy
Policy Leadership & Advocacy
The unified negotiating platform with COCOBOD, government ministries, and regulators shaping rules-based pricing, tax policy, and industry reform.
- 02More on Standardization and Integrity
Standardization and Integrity
Binding codes of conduct, fair payment norms, and operational discipline that improve farmer welfare and protect the collective reputation of Ghanaian cocoa traders.
- 03More on Financial Sustainability & Market Stability
Financial Sustainability & Market Stability
Innovative trade finance models, risk-sharing mechanisms, and pooled liquidity solutions built for the post-syndicated loan market.
- 04More on Global Positioning & ESG Compliance
Global Positioning & ESG Compliance
Member alignment with international traceability, climate resilience, and EU/global ESG benchmarks keeping Ghanaian cocoa competitive.
- 05More on Farmer Relations & Welfare
Farmer Relations & Welfare
Prompt payment standards, fair dispute resolution, and lasting farmer-buyer trust at the farmgate.
Our Role
Connecting Ghana's Cocoa Ecosystem
One governance framework linking the farmgate to global markets and every institution in between.
01
Farmers
Smallholder farming communities
02
Licensed Buying Companies
Primary aggregation and internal trade
03
Processors
Industrial and secondary grinding
04
Financial Institutions
Trade finance and risk sharing
05
Government & Regulators
COCOBOD, ministries, regulators
06
International Buyers
Off-takers and global markets
07
Development Partners
Research and sustainability programmes
Our Story
A New Institution for a New Era
Ghana’s cocoa sector is entering a defining transition — from voluntary association to a standards-driven institution equipped to shape policy, enforce compliance, and safeguard the value chain.
The operating environment for Licensed Buying Companies has changed fundamentally:
- 01
Working-capital constraints, payment arrears, and pricing uncertainty have intensified.
- 02
Cross-border smuggling and price arbitrage continue to erode volumes.
- 03
International traders with stronger balance sheets are gaining share at the expense of smaller, indigenous buyers.
In 2024, COCOBOD suspended the syndicated pre-export loan model that had financed cocoa purchases for over three decades, the first suspension in 32 years.
The 2025/26 season has proceeded without it, with no indication of near-term revival. LBCs now bear full upfront working-capital risk, financed through equity, bank credit, or trader partnerships. Smaller firms face acute exposure to market exclusion.
These are structural shifts, not temporary setbacks. A voluntary association model no longer carries the institutional authority, enforcement capacity, or policy influence required.
Membership
COCOMAG:ONE VOICEONE PLATFORM
The Chamber unites stakeholders across the full spectrum of cocoa trade and processing.
Licensed Cocoa Buyers
Level A and Level B Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) executing primary aggregation and internal trade.
Grinding Members
Industrial and secondary processors adding value to raw beans.
Artisanal & Craft Members
Corporate buyers operating in specialized and niche purchasing spaces.
Affiliate & Associate Members
Input suppliers, logistics providers, financial institutions, research bodies, and development partners supporting the cocoa trading ecosystem.
Sustainability & Global Standards
Building a Transparent and Sustainable Cocoa Future
Member alignment with international traceability, climate resilience and EU/global ESG benchmarks — verified from origin.
- Traceability
- Ethical sourcing
- Climate resilience
- ESG compliance
- Supply-chain integrity
Partnerships
Partnering Across the Cocoa Value Chain
What the Chamber offers each constituency it works with.
Government & COCOBOD
A trusted, disciplined institutional partner enforcing regulatory compliance and upholding quality standards across buying points nationwide.
Financial Institutions & Investors
A robust risk mitigation platform built on transparent data, rigorous governance, and industry-leading standards to de-risk and secure cocoa trade financing.
International Off-takers & Global Buyers
Confidence in ethical sourcing, full digital traceability, and supply chain integrity verified directly from origin.
Cooperative Farmers & Rural Communities
Fair, transparent pricing and dependable payment systems, backed by ethical purchasing practices that protect and strengthen livelihoods.
Insights
Industry Insights & Updates
Policy analysis, market commentary and Chamber news for Ghana's cocoa sector.
Publications open shortly
The Chamber's policy briefings, market updates and sustainability reporting will be published here. Register your interest and we will notify you as the programme opens.
Work With the Chamber
Strengthening Ghana's Cocoa Industry Together
Whether you buy, process, finance, regulate or source Ghanaian cocoa, the Chamber is the platform where the industry's standards, financing and policy positions are set.