The Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA), in collaboration with the Africa for Glory Agenda, on Wednesday, November 26, officially launched the maiden Cocoa Cup Soccer Tournament at the Accra International Press Centre, a landmark international football competition aimed at merging the global passion for the sport with the urgent call for sustainable cocoa production.
Scheduled for March 2027 in Brazil, the tournament will feature clubs representing both cocoa-producing and cocoa-consuming countries under the theme “Youth-Led Soccer for Sustainable Cocoa Production.”
The launch brought together journalists, cocoa-sector stakeholders, youth groups, and members of GNACOFA. Keynote remarks were delivered by Daniel Nana Osei Ampratwum, Tournament Project Manager and CEO of Africa for Glory Agenda, and Ing. Stephenson Anane Boateng, Acting Board Chairman of the Cocoa Cup and President of GNACOFA.
Ampratwum explained that the Cocoa Cup was conceived to leverage football’s global influence to educate consumers—especially young people—about the origins of cocoa, its economic importance, and the need for sustainable sourcing.
“Football presents an unmatched opportunity to connect with consumers,” he said. “This approach is expected to stimulate demand and strengthen support for cocoa farmers and the entire sector.”
He added that the tournament would also highlight critical issues facing the cocoa industry, including land reclamation, farmers’ pensions, child labour, and the broader Green Earth agenda.
Although Australia will not compete in the maiden edition, it will participate as an official observer. Other proposed observer nations include Canada, Nigeria, Cameroon, India, Singapore, Luxembourg, and additional eligible countries.
Participating clubs were selected according to their home countries, forming a roster representing three cocoa-producing and four cocoa-consuming nations.
Ampratwum described Brazil as the perfect host—both a “boutique producer-consumer nation” and a country with world-class football infrastructure.
He reflected on cocoa’s heritage, recalling Tetteh Quarshie’s introduction of cocoa to Ghana and Sir Gordon Guggisberg’s influence in mechanising production. He lamented that many children in cocoa-growing communities still grow up without ever tasting cocoa products:
“This is an unfortunate reality we seek to correct, however trivial it may appear.”
He stressed that the Cocoa Cup project will benefit consumers as well as producers, ensuring access to healthier cocoa products and promoting awareness of cocoa’s nutritional value.
The road to Brazil will start with continental playoffs. In Ghana, the opening match is set for February 1, 2026, featuring arch-rivals Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak at a venue yet to be announced.
A proposed Ivory Coast playoff — Africa Sports vs ASEC Mimosas — is scheduled for March 1, 2026, with additional playoffs planned for Asia, Europe, South America, and North America.
Ampratwum noted that organisers have received “optimistic” responses from African clubs, expressing gratitude to Opemsuo FM and the Kessben Group of Companies for their early support.
“With grace, courage, and unity of purpose, we are certain that our efforts will not be defeated by circumstance,” he said.
GNACOFA President Ing. Stephenson Anane Boateng emphasised cocoa’s central role in Ghana’s economy.
Cocoa supports 800,000 farm owners, 700,000 sharecroppers, and thousands of workers across nine regions, contributing about US$2 billion in annual foreign exchange.
He highlighted GNACOFA’s mission to represent small-scale farmers, promote unity, strengthen access to credit, and improve production in cocoa-growing communities. With nearly 800,000 members, he said the association remains a major force in shaping policy.
A major pillar of the tournament involves youth engagement. Each playoff will include seminars, symposia, and youth curtain-raiser matches aimed at encouraging succession planning in cocoa farming.
GNACOFA has also formed its own football team — GNACOFA Stars — to attract young talent to cocoa farming and support youth already in the sector.
“We are confident this initiative will usher in a new era where cocoa farmers receive the recognition they deserve,” Boateng said. “GNACOFA remains ready to collaborate with the Government of Ghana and COCOBOD to ensure the cocoa sector remains a beacon of pride and prosperity.”
Both speakers underscored that the Cocoa Cup is not just a football tournament but a social, economic, and cultural intervention aimed at protecting farmers’ livelihoods while building global appreciation for cocoa.
The initiative includes advocacy efforts, research-driven awareness campaigns, and policy engagement to strengthen the cocoa value chain.
Closing the event, Ampratwum reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment:
“Long live the cocoa economy. Long live cocoa. Long live the Cocoa Cup Soccer Tournament.”
