Patricia Poku Diaby, the founder of Plot Enterprise Group, has become one of the most influential figures in West Africa’s cocoa industry, building a business that reflects a broader push to process more of the region’s raw materials locally.
Often referred to as the “Cocoa Queen”, Patricia Poku Diaby is widely recognised for her role in Ghana’s cocoa processing sector.
Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, but like many commodity-exporting nations, it has historically derived less value from processing than from raw exports.
Ms Poku Diaby’s business strategy has focused on reversing that trend.
Her company processes cocoa beans into products such as butter, liquor and powder, supplying international markets and helping retain more value within the region.
Plot Enterprise Group operates large-scale facilities in Ghana, including a major processing plant in the western city of Takoradi.
Industry observers say this scale has positioned her as a notable private-sector player in the cocoa processing industry, in a sector long dominated by multinational firms.
Ms Poku Diaby began her career in her family’s trading business before establishing her own company and moving into cocoa processing an area requiring significant capital investment and technical expertise.
Her rise has been seen by some analysts as part of a wider shift in African economies towards industrialisation and export diversification.
By expanding domestic processing capacity, businesses like hers contribute to job creation and increased export revenues.
Despite her prominence in the industry, Ms Poku Diaby maintains a low public profile, rarely giving interviews.
However, her company’s growth has drawn attention both within Ghana and internationally.
As demand for cocoa products continues globally, her business model is increasingly viewed as an example of how producing countries can move up the value chain transitioning from suppliers of raw materials to competitive industrial exporters.
