Kofi Adu Amoah

Ghanaian agricultural innovator who transformed West African cocoa production

Kofi Adu Amoah (1918-1972) was a Ghanaian agronomist whose innovations in cocoa farming techniques revolutionized West Africa's agricultural economy. Born in Kumasi, he studied plant science in London before returning to Ghana in 1945 to address the declining cocoa yields caused by disease and poor practices. His breakthrough came in 1952 with the development of the "Amoah Cocoa System", a disease-resistant hybrid cocoa plant that increased yields by 300%.

Amoah's "Farmers First" approach emphasized community-based training, establishing 47 demonstration farms across Ghana. His Cocoa Growers Handbook (1958) became the standard manual for farmers, detailing soil management techniques that restored fertility to overworked farmlands. By 1965, his methods were adopted by 80% of Ghanaian cocoa farmers, making the country the world's largest cocoa exporter.

In 1968, he founded the Amoah Agricultural Institute, which trained 2,000 farmers annually using his sustainable practices. His work laid the foundation for Ghana's post-independence agricultural policy, and his legacy is celebrated at the Kumasi Cocoa Museum. The FAO honored him posthumously in 1975 with its Global Agriculture Award.