The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Ransford Abbey, has reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to sustained engagement with cocoa farmers and the introduction of improved policies to enhance productivity and farmer welfare, despite operational constraints and a growing debt burden.
Dr Abbey gave the assurance when the 2025 National Award-winning Cocoa and Coffee Farmers, accompanied by executives of the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE), paid a courtesy call on him to express appreciation for COCOBOD’s recognition and continued support.
The meeting formed part of a series of engagements held throughout 2025 between COCOBOD and COCOSHE to address challenges confronting the cocoa sector, review government policies and explore measures to improve farmer livelihoods, while safeguarding Ghana’s reputation for producing premium-quality cocoa.
Speaking on behalf of the award-winning farmers, the 2025 National Best Cocoa Farmer, Mr Edward Kwame Yeboah, encouraged Ghanaian youth to consider cocoa farming as a viable and rewarding livelihood.
“Cocoa farming has taken care of my family and given me national recognition. I urge the youth to quit galamsey and embrace cocoa farming, which offers sustainable income and helps preserve our land for future generations,” he said.
During the interaction, farmers raised concerns about rising input costs, inadequate infrastructure and the need for sustained institutional support to boost productivity.
Dr Abbey acknowledged the concerns and explained that the suspension of some cocoa road projects was linked to efforts to manage COCOBOD’s debt burden, which he said had risen to about GH¢33 billion due to unfunded contracts awarded between 2018 and 2020.
He noted that revenues from cocoa would have been better utilised to directly improve infrastructure in cocoa-growing communities, rather than accumulating unsustainable financial liabilities.
The discussions also touched on key government initiatives, including the transfer of cocoa road projects to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, as well as a tertiary education scholarship scheme for the children of cocoa farmers.
Dr Abbey expressed optimism about the future of the cocoa sector, assuring stakeholders of continued dialogue and reforms aimed at improving productivity, strengthening farmer support systems and sustaining the long-term viability of the industry.
