Cocoa beans are the primary ingredient in chocolate confectionery products. The beans thrive in tropical climates near the equator. Therefore, the West African nations of the Ivory Coast and Ghana are the world's leading producers of cocoa. Together they account for around 60% of the global annual supplies.
The economies of the IC and Ghana are highly dependent on the cocoa business as it is the leading employer. Cocoa provides income for workers who grow, pick, and transport the beans from farms to ports for export to consumers around the world. The soft commodity also