If Iran Wants Ghana's Cocoa Let Them Build A Cocoa Processing Plant Here

Apparently,   Iran wants to buy cocoa beans from Ghana. If our leaders were wise, they would  ask the Iranians to build a cocoa processing plant in Ghana instead,  to export its products to Iran.

Why allow Iran, which says it is a good friend of Ghana's, to join the long list of nations that prefer to import raw materials from Ghana, instead of setting up factories here to process raw material such as  cocoa beans and create jobs, add to our GDP and enable our nation to enjoy an overall positive trade balance - rather than helping to perpetuate the neo-colonial structure of our economy?

The government must not make the same mistake that was once  made  when a delegation of businesspeople - apparently  including some even prepared to build a factory here to process cocoa beans,  as their  Plan B,  if their request was refused  - came from Malaysia to discuss the purchase of cocoa beans from Ghana.

 The Malaysians got exactly what they wanted, and departed with an assuarance of direct access to Ghana's famed cocoa beans - forever freeing them of the tyranny of  the international cocoa market's speculators (such as Amajaro's Anthony Ward). Yet,  they came prepared to build a cocoa processing plant in Ghana, to export its products to Malaysia - a positive outcome that would have led to a win-win situation for both nations. Pity.

 As much as possible, we must discourage the export of raw materials from Ghana, and point those who want to import raw materials from our country,  to set up processing plants here instead. In the long-term, it is the only way to prevent our currency from becoming worthless.

Such a policy will provide  young Ghanaians with  jobs. And if a law is passed that requires such investors to have local partners,  or float shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange after a given period, it will  also keep some of their profits in Ghana too.

Let us build mutually beneficial relationships with nations that profess to be our friends - instead of forever remaining globalisation's hewers of wood and drawers of water. Iran is welcome to as much of Ghana's cocoa beans as it wants  - if  it builds processing plants here to export what they produce for use by its confectionary industry. One hopes the hard-of-hearing geniuses who rule our nation will pay heed to this humble suggestion.  A word to the wise...