Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, a flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has shared a deeply personal narrative of his family’s pioneering role in Ghana’s cocoa industry, drawing a direct line from his humble beginnings on a cocoa farm to his political ambitions.
In an interview with Aisha Ibrahim on JoyNews’ Personal Profile, Dr. Adutwum, a former Minister of Education and incumbent MP for Bosomtwe, recounted a story of “adventurous, uneducated individuals” who, driven by opportunity, transformed Ghana’s landscape and economy.
The aspiring presidential candidate highlighted the generational journey of his family, which saw his uncle, acting almost as an apprentice, venturing into new territories in search of fertile land for cocoa cultivation.
When resources in that area were exhausted, their generation moved to the Central Region, settling in towns like Dunkwa, before continuing their expansion into the Western Region.
Dr. Adutwum’s story sheds light on the historical migration patterns of cocoa farmers, who were instrumental in establishing Ghana as a global cocoa powerhouse.
These pioneers, often uneducated but highly ambitious, moved from the Eastern and Central regions—the historical heartlands of cocoa farming—to newer frontiers in the Western and Ashanti regions. This movement, driven by the search for untouched virgin forests, fueled the industry’s growth in the early to mid-20th century.
The locations mentioned by Dr. Adutwum—Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region, and Wasa Akropong and the Huni Valley-Tarkwa area in the Western Region—are historically and currently significant cocoa-growing hubs.
The Western and Western North Regions today account for a large portion of Ghana’s cocoa production.
The narrative of his family’s journey reflects a broader historical trend where these areas, once dense forests, were cleared by a new wave of migrant farmers, transforming them into Ghana’s economic backbone.
Dr. Adutwum’s account resonates with the Ghanaian identity, where cocoa is not just a commodity but a core part of the nation’s heritage and a source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of families.
His personal story underscores a message of perseverance, foresight, and hard work—qualities he suggests are essential for national leadership.
By highlighting his family’s roots in the cocoa industry, Dr. Adutwum aims to connect with the electorate on a fundamental level, framing his journey as a microcosm of the Ghanaian spirit of enterprise and resilience.
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