AAK West Africa has trained representatives of 22 Ghanaian chocolate and confectionery companies in practical production techniques to improve product quality, promote innovation and add value to the country’s cocoa industry.
The two-day training, held from October 7 to 8, 2026, at FairAfric Ghana Limited at Amanase-Suhum in the Eastern Region, formed part of the second AAK Innovation Academy.
The programme equipped participants with practical skills in chocolate and compound processing, tempering, tablet production, fillings, pralines, coatings and sensory evaluation.
It also covered crystallisation, chocolate bloom, texture and heat stability, all of which are important in producing quality chocolate and confectionery products.
Anders Dahl Pedersen, Global Application Excellence Manager for Chocolate and Confectionery at AAK, said he was impressed by the achievements of the training and the commitment demonstrated by both trainers and participants.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to their daily operations to improve production and help strengthen Ghana’s cocoa and chocolate industry.
Mr Pedersen said the practical knowledge gained from the academy should translate into improved products, better manufacturing processes and greater competitiveness for Ghanaian chocolate producers.
He led the training alongside Jan Buus Lombardi, an Application Technician in Chocolate and Confectionery at AAK. Both specialists, who have more than 25 years of experience in the chocolate and confectionery industry, travelled from Denmark to support the programme.
The academy followed its inaugural edition in June 2026, which focused mainly on industry knowledge, trends and opportunities.
This year’s edition placed greater emphasis on practical learning, allowing participants to work directly with ingredients and production processes to understand how formulation and processing affect the quality of finished products.
Participating companies included Amonu Chocolate, Delfi Chocolate, Sekoe Chocolate, 57 Chocolate, Ohene Cocoa, Chocoluv, Chocolate Mall, Ab Ovo, FairAfric and Bon Kakao Limited.
Others were Gablin, Edible Treats, Asasepa Food, All Save, Cocoa Bean Chocolate, Darling Wings, Party Packs, Nkwa Foods, Abovo Confectionery, Virtue Ghana Limited, Decokraft and Kamini Chocolate.
Certificates were awarded to participants at the end of the programme.
The academy is one of four commitments made by AAK under a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
It forms part of the company’s broader efforts to support technical capacity development, innovation and value creation in Ghana’s agricultural and food manufacturing sectors.
Although Ghana is a major cocoa-producing country, expanding local processing and manufacturing presents opportunities to retain more value from the commodity.
The training is intended to help local manufacturers develop competitive products, improve quality standards and strengthen their presence in both domestic and international markets.
BY ENOCH NTIAMOAH SIAW
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