Zaina.org
Zaina Gohou is a German–Ivorian entrepreneur and founder of Zacao, a pioneering tree-to-bar chocolate company rooted in Ghana. With a mission to empower local farmers and elevate African craftsmanship, she has built a transparent, ethical supply chain that keeps every stage of chocolate production—from harvest to packaging—within the communities that grow the cacao. Zaina’s work focuses on creating dignified jobs, fair wages, and sustainable growth for smallholder farmers and women-led cooperatives, ensuring that more of the value of cacao remains in West Africa.
Through her leadership, Zacao has become a model of “single commerce,” a vertically integrated approach that connects producers directly to global consumers, eliminating middlemen and maximizing community benefit. Combining business strategy with social purpose, Zaina has redefined what it means to build a profitable, impact-driven brand. Her vision blends entrepreneurship, education, and equity, proving that premium quality and social responsibility can thrive together—one bar, one farmer, and one story at a time.
Through her leadership, Zacao has become a model of “single commerce,” a vertically integrated approach that connects producers directly to global consumers, eliminating middlemen and maximizing community benefit. Combining business strategy with social purpose, Zaina has redefined what it means to build a profitable, impact-driven brand. Her vision blends entrepreneurship, education, and equity, proving that premium quality and social responsibility can thrive together—one bar, one farmer, and one story at a time.