COCOA MEDIA HUB LAUNCHED TO ENHANCE OPEN GOVERNANCE AND FARMER ENGAGEMENT

Date: 13th January 2026

Ghana Cocoa Board, along with various stakeholders, has participated in the official launch of the Cocoa Media Hub, a communication initiative designed to enhance public understanding of cocoa production, amplify farmers’ voices, and propagate key initiatives and interventions across the industry. The launch, held at the Tesano Baptist Church, emphasised the importance of storytelling, transparency, and stakeholder education in sustaining Ghana’s position as the leading producer of premium cocoa.

In his address, Dr John Barnett Quaicoo, Deputy Managing Director of Cocoa Marketing Company Ltd (CMC), noted that cocoa farming has always depended not only on hard work, but also on access to the right information. He explained that many farmers remain disadvantaged because policies, market trends, and reforms are often poorly understood or misrepresented. According to him, the Cocoa Media Hub will help close this gap by providing accurate, farmer-focused information that reflects real experiences on the ground, while protecting Ghana’s image as a trusted producer of premium cocoa.

Dr Quaicoo further highlighted that agriculture thrives on knowledge. He stressed that today’s cocoa farmer must be equipped with information on good agronomic practices, climate-smart farming, along with emerging risks such as climate change. In this regard, the Media Hub is expected to complement ongoing institutional efforts by improving the quality and consistency of information shared on all media forms across the sector.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Mr Jerome Kweku Sam, Head of Public Affairs, COCOBOD, noted that cocoa development today goes beyond production volumes and pricing. It, however, depends on accurate communication that centres farmers and their lived experiences within national and global conversations.

He further explained that COCOBOD’s management has adopted a deliberate policy of openness and inclusive governance, ensuring that stakeholders are kept informed about policies, finances, and sectoral decisions. According to him, the Cocoa Media Hub will add to these efforts by enhancing the quality and consistency of information shared, supporting informed dialogue, accountability, and trust across the sector.

A major concern raised during the launch was the growing threat of illegal mining to cocoa-growing communities, with the destructive impact of galamsey on farmlands and water bodies requiring sustained public education. As a result, the Hub was tasked to lead awareness campaigns that highlight these dangers and encourage collective national responsibility.

Women farmers and cooperative leaders welcomed the initiative at the launch, describing it as a platform that recognises their contributions and challenges. They expressed hope that the Media Hub would help shift the narrative to empowerment, while encouraging participation in innovation and education.

Patrons of the Cocoa Media Hub were presented with citations and certificates, formally endorsing their membership and support for the hub’s mandate. The Media Hub is expected to support key reforms, including the adoption of a 24-hour operational policy aimed at efficiency, timeliness, and strengthening livelihoods, while positioning Ghana’s cocoa sector for sustainable growth.

The Cocoa Media Hub is a communication platform mandated to disseminate accurate, farmer-centred stories, educate and inform stakeholders while supporting transparency, advocacy and sustainable development across Ghana’s cocoa sector. The hub is headed by Mr Samuel Opoku, who serves as its Chief Executive Officer and leads its mandate to amplify cocoa farmers’ voices and strengthen cocoa sector communication.