Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has reaffirmed its dedication to sustainable cocoa production in celebration of International Cocoa Day 2024. The event, observed annually on October 1, honors the contributions of cocoa farmers and stakeholders who support the country’s cocoa industry, which remains a global leader in premium cocoa production.
This year’s theme, “Sustaining Cocoa for Future Generations,” highlights COCOBOD’s long-term commitment to enhancing the resilience and growth of the cocoa sector, despite evolving global challenges.
The organization stresses the need for collective action from farmers, government bodies, industry partners, and consumers to uphold ethical practices in cocoa cultivation and marketing.
COCOBOD in the last few months has been struggling, facing multiple challenges from financial to smuggling of cocoa. Amidst all this the sector in last month September planned to launch the 2024/2025 Cocoa season with new financing models to address some of its issues, eliminating reliance on traditional syndicated loans.
The institution is however calling on Ghanaians to unite in the fight against illegal mining and cocoa smuggling, two threats that could severely damage the industry. Illegal mining degrades cocoa farmlands, while cocoa smuggling deprives the nation of vital revenue and affects the livelihoods of farmers.
In light of the upcoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) set to take effect in January 2025, COCOBOD has assured stakeholders that they are well-prepared to meet the necessary sustainability and traceability standards.
They are encouraging Ghanaians to support the local economy by purchasing locally processed cocoa products and collaborating to protect the country’s rich cocoa heritage for future generations.
