11-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COCOBOD INAUGURATED

Date: 18th May 2025

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has sworn in an 11-member Board of Directors of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) at the Ministry of Finance. He charged the new Board to pursue pragmatic strategies to revitalise the cocoa sector, enhance its economic viability, and make it more appealing to the younger generation.

In a brief statement on the government's policies focus for the sector, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance urged the new Board to consider the establishment of large-scale cocoa plantation farms across the country as part of the Board’s new policy direction aimed at revitalising the ailing cocoa sector and enhancing the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.

“The move is aimed at complementing the efforts of peasant and smallholder farmers who contribute about 90 to 95 per cent of Ghana’s production capacity,” he said.

Hon. Ato Forson further noted that investing in large-scale farming will not only boost production but also motivate the youth to venture into the business of cocoa farming. 

“Our focus is on involving the youth to make cocoa farming attractive once again and to modernise the sector for long-term sustainability,” he noted.

Against this background, the finance minister disclosed that talks were far advanced between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the acquisition of some 200,000 hectares of arable land to commence the initiative, an indication of His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama's commitment to restoring the cocoa sector to its past glories. 

The finance minister observed that despite the valuable contribution of the cocoa industry to Ghana’s economy over the years, the sector continues to be dominated by smallholder farmers compared to other producing countries such as the Côte d’Ivoire . This development, he said, has adverse effects on the country’s cocoa production capacity.  

While expressing concerns about the decline in output in the last eight years, which he attributed largely to gross mismanagement, Hon. Ato Forson observed that he has complete hope and confidence in the new Board and Management to reverse the trend.

“It is very sad that the cocoa sector, which used to be the biggest source of Ghana’s forex exchange, is today on its knees because of gross mismanagement by the previous regime,” he said.

The finance minister, therefore, charged the Board and Management to lead the new crusade by encouraging professionals and institutions to venture into large-scale cocoa farming.

He further pledged the support of the government towards the fight and eradication of the deadly Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease, as well as rehabilitating ageing cocoa farms.     

The Chairman of the Board, Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, expressed gratitude to the President for the confidence reposed in the individual members and assured that they would work assiduously to support management in the realisation of the President’s vision and policies for the cocoa sector.

According to him, amongst other priorities, the Board would help management in dealing with challenges such as illegal mining, cocoa smuggling, and ensure the full implementation of the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme, which was a major campaign promise of President John Mahama. 

Meanwhile, the 11-member Board includes Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Banh Forson - Minister, Ministry of Finance; Dr. Johnson Asiama - Governor, Bank of Ghana (BoG); Dr. Ransford Anertey Abbey - Chief Executive, COCOBOD; Hon. Alhassan Kobina Ghansah, MP - Government Nominee;  Hon. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, MP - Government Nominee; Hon. Sampson Ahi, MP - Deputy Minister, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry; Hon. John Setor Dumelo, MP - Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture; Alhaji Alhassan Bukari – Farmers Representative; Nana Charles Owusu - Farmers Representative and Mr. Eric Ekow Turkson, Chairman, COCOBOD Workers' Union - Representative of COCOBOD Staff.