Cocoa prices, the context

Cocoa prices have fallen sharply from late-2024 record highs of nearly ton, dropping below ton by mid-February 2026 due to improved supply forecasts in West Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana).

Since Tetteh Quarshie introduced the crop to Ghana, it has been harvested and marketed with the simple methods of the late 19th century. Pods are removed from the tree stem, - farmer and workers split open the pod,

• beans are spread out to dry and ferment,
• they are bagged and sent to agent.

Harvested cocoa beans can generally be stored for 4 to 6 months under standard conditions without significant quality loss. However, with proper, high-quality storage—such as airtight, hermetic, or, plastic-lined jute bags—dried cocoa beans can be kept for up to 2 years.

Any intelligent person will immediately think What if the cocoa can be stored properly for years? So that there is no rush to market when prices drop.

So a wise man said let us build silos to store several years harvest or process it to add value. This was realised. The idea was so powerful that analysts insist that it was the sole reason the Osagyefo was overthrown. The silos were completed in August 1965 and on February 24 1966 there was the coup.

The silos form part of the skyline in Tema no one has contemplated using them while we wring our hands and argue over cocoa prices. I encourage you to think bro, will this happen in any industrialised country?

To see these abandoned silos Google:- "Silos Tema and Ghana" Sorry if you weep