COLOMBIAN DIPLOMAT COMMENDS COCOBOD’S SUPPORT FOR COFFEE INDUSTRY

Date: 09th October 2025

By Geoffrey Opoku-Darko, Public Affairs, CRIG

Madam Kelis Moreno, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Colombia in Ghana, has commended the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for its remarkable efforts to revitalise Ghana’s coffee sector alongside its globally acclaimed cocoa industry.

She noted that enhanced collaboration between Ghana and Colombia would significantly boost the growth and development of the coffee industry. Madam Moreno expressed appreciation to COCOBOD and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) for their dedication and technical support to Ghanaian farmers in building a resilient, competitive, and inclusive coffee value chain.

Madam Moreno made these remarks on Wednesday, 8th October 2025, when she led a high-level delegation to meet with the Management of CRIG at New Tafo-Akim. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between Ghana and Colombia in research and development within the coffee sector.

Welcoming the delegation, the Acting Executive Director of CRIG, Dr Kofi Owusu Domfeh, briefed them on the institute’s research activities and those of COCOBOD. He emphasised that sustained collaboration between the two countries would enhance research outcomes and decision-making processes to promote the production and marketing of high-quality coffee beans, ensuring a sustainable coffee industry.

Dr Owusu Domfeh reaffirmed COCOBOD and CRIG’s commitment to advancing the coffee sector through progressive research, improving the livelihoods of coffee farmers, and promoting industry stability. He expressed optimism that the partnership would yield mutual benefits by fostering sustainable and environmentally sound research initiatives aligned with the broader vision for coffee development.

Present at the meeting were Dr Daniel Nyadanu, Acting Deputy Executive Director of CRIG (Cocoa & Kola); Mr Juan-Manuel Perilla, representative from the Ministry of Agriculture of Colombia; Mr Paul Ntim, Director of SSSU-CRIG; and Madam Annie Dela Akanko from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Others included Dr Abraham Akpertey, Plant Breeder, CRIG; Dr Mrs Patricia Adu-Yeboah, Agronomist, CRIG; Dr G.K. Awudzi, Entomologist, CRIG; Mr Emmanuel Kumnipah Yeboah, Technical Manager, SPD; and Mr Samuel Nyamekye Antwi, Research Manager, COCOBOD, among others.