KUMASI, April 11, 2025 – The Ghana Cocoa Board [COCOBOD] has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with organised cooperatives as a strategy to enhance growth and sustainability in the country’s cocoa sector.
Describing cooperatives as vital stakeholders in the cocoa value chain, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Dr Randy Anertey Abbey, emphasised their key role in advancing the Board’s programmes and initiatives.
Speaking on his behalf at the official launch of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers Association & Marketing Ltd in Kumasi recently, Dr Francis Baah, Deputy Chief Executive of COCOBOD in charge of Agronomy and Quality Control, urged cocoa farmers to reinvest the proceeds from their farms to further develop their businesses.
Abbey also underscored the importance of investing in irrigation infrastructure to mitigate the effects of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, which have adversely impacted cocoa production.
“Previously, we had eight months of continuous rainfall and four months of dry weather. Today, the situation is reversed. Irrigation is the future of cocoa farming,” he stated.
He raised concerns about the growing threats of illegal mining and cocoa smuggling, which he said are major contributors to the recent decline in cocoa yields. He assured farmers that COCOBOD is developing strategies to deliver essential support services, including inputs, fertilisers, and logistical assistance, to improve productivity.
Dr Abbey also cautioned farmers against hoarding cocoa beans in the hope of higher prices, emphasising the need for timely sales.
“This year promises a good harvest. We need the beans now to generate the revenue required to continue supporting you,” he said.
Unity and advocacy
Issifu Issaka, National President of the newly launched Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers Association & Marketing Ltd, called on cocoa farmers to remain united in the pursuit of shared objectives. He also advocated for cocoa pricing reforms that reflect the best interests of farmers.
Nana Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV, Chief of Akyem Tafo, encouraged farmers to support government efforts in combating illegal mining and smuggling. He stressed the need to safeguard cocoa farmlands for future generations.
Similarly, Nana Abraham Adusei, Global President of the World Cocoa Farmers Organisation [WCFO], urged farmers not to lease their lands to illegal miners, warning of the irreversible damage such activities pose to the environment and to farmers’ livelihoods.
Sector-wide support
The launch event received strong support from key industry stakeholders, including Solidaridad, AgriTerra, the World Cocoa Foundation, the Ghana Co-operative Council, the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative, and Zenith Bank.
The establishment of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers Association & Marketing Ltd – now the umbrella body for all cocoa farmer cooperatives in Ghana – is expected to give farmers a stronger collective voice, improving access to support and creating greater opportunities for long-term sectoral growth.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 18
