CRIG HOLDS 34TH ANNUAL REVIEW MEETING

Date: 08th June 2026

The 34th Annual Review Meeting of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) has been held at the Institute's conference room at the Flavour Laboratory facility, with a call on research scientists and scientists in academia to work together to find lasting solutions to the challenges bedevilling the cocoa sector. 

The programme, which commenced on Tuesday 19th May, 2026, to Thursday 21st  May, 2026, brought together scientists from CRIG’s scientific divisions, academia and allied research organisations to discuss the 2025/2026 progress reports and work plans for the ensuing crop year. 

In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the CRIG Management Committee, Professor Irene Susana Egyir, expressed her gratitude to the CRIG Management for successfully organising the 34th edition of the annual review meeting. 

She urged the scientists to collaborate and work with their colleagues from academia and related research organisations to continue with the quality research, which has contributed immensely to increased productivity and sustainability of the industry. 

Professor Egyir was hopeful the research progress report would aid COCOBOD in addressing some challenges in the cocoa sector.

Fifty-three (53) presentations were delivered by scientists from the existing Thrust Systems of the Institute. They included Soil and Crop Management, Post-Harvest Quality Management, Crop Improvement, Insect Pests Management, System Assessment and Analysis and Plant Diseases Management.

Each Thrust was chaired by an eminent scientist. Prof. Vincent Logah, a Crop and Soil Scientist (KNUST, Kumasi) for Crop and Soil Management, Dr. Hayford Ofori, Researcher, CSIR (Food Research Insitute) for Post-Harvest Quality Management, Prof. Kwadwo Ofori (Plant Breeder, University of Ghana, Legon) for Crop Improvement, Dr. Richard Adu-Achempong, (Executive Director of Cocoa Health and  Extension Division) for  Insect Pests Management, Dr. Allen Oppong (Crop Research Scientist, CSIR-Crop Research Institute, Accra) for Plant Diseases and Management, and Professor Amos Mensah, (Agricultural Economist, KNUST, Kumasi) System Assessment and Analysis. 

Dr. Kofi Owusu Domfeh, the Executive Director of CRIG, expressed his gratitude to COCOBOD, the CRIG Management Committee, the invited scientists in academia and other research organisations for honouring the invitation to provide inputs to direct and shape the research outcome.

He applauded the efforts of the research scientists for a good job done, urging them to work even harder to address challenges associated with sustainable cocoa production. 

In attendance were Dr. Daniel Nyadanu, Deputy Executive Director of CRIG (Cocoa & Kola), Dr. Mrs. Esther Gyedu Akoto, Deputy Executive Director of CRIG (Coffee, Shea & Cashew), Mr. Paul Ntim, Director of SSSU-CRIG, Mr. Andrew Asamoa Frimpong-Manso, Senior Human Resource Manager of CRIG and Mr. Andrew Akrofi, Former Research Scientist of CRIG.

Also present were Professor Maxwell Darko Asante, Director of CSIR-Crop Research Institute; Mr. Raymond Acquah, representative of the Ministry of Finance; Alhaji Imoro Issiful Alhassan, Northern Regional Chief Farmer; Nana Kwame Abass, Volt/Oti Regional Chief Farmer; Brother Andrews Awudja, Workers’ Representative - all members of the CRIG Management Committee.