GHANA COCOA BOARD HONOURS 2024 NATIONAL BEST COCOA, COFFEE, AND SHEA NUT AWARD WINNERS

Date: 15th November 2024

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has celebrated the winners of the 2024 National Best Cocoa, Coffee, and Shea Nut awards, recognizing their hard work and outstanding contributions to Ghana’s agricultural sector and overall economic growth.

At a vibrant ceremony held at the Cocoa House in Accra to climax the 2024 National Farmers’ Day Celebrations, Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive of COCOBOD, emphasized the pivotal role of agriculture in general and cocoa in particular in Ghana’s economy. He highlighted the dedication of farmers to the success of the cocoa, coffee, and shea nut industries.

This year’s distinguished awardees included Kwame Alex, National Best Cocoa Farmer; Yaa Adjele, National Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer; Solomon Tohola, National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer; Winifred Batabana, National Best Shea Picker; and Victor Benefo, National Best Coffee Farmer. These awards celebrate their exceptional dedication and achievements in their respective fields.

In his remarks, Hon Aidoo underscored the government’s commitment to the cocoa sector. He outlined significant investments in technological advancements, productivity enhancement programmes, and periodic price adjustments aimed at improving the welfare of farmers.

“Before the introduction of hand pollination in 2017, cocoa trees produced fewer than 50 pods per tree per season. Today, thanks to productivity enhancement programs, farmers report over 200 pods per tree per season. This productivity boost directly translates to higher revenue for farmers and reflects positively on international markets,” he stated.

The Chief Executive urged the award winners to lead efforts against cocoa smuggling and illegal mining, which threaten the sustainability of the agricultural sector. He emphasized that protecting these gains is a way to appreciate COCOBOD’s investments in supporting farmers’ businesses.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Kwame Alex, the National Best Cocoa Farmer from Hunni Valley in the Western South Region, lauded COCOBOD for its innovative initiatives that have significantly improved cocoa productivity. He pledged to use the resources gained from his award to inspire the youth to venture into cocoa farming.

“I will ensure that the Toyota Hilux double cabin pick-up awarded to me serves as a tool to champion pollination efforts among young cocoa farmers and beyond,” Alex declared.

Awards and Prizes
For his achievement as National Best Cocoa Farmer, Kwame Alex received a Toyota Hilux double cabin pick-up, a standard pruner, a motorized sprayer, safety equipment, and a collection of chocolate products, among other items.

Yaa Adjele, National Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer from Asankragwa in the Western South Region, was presented with a single cabin mini truck, safety gear, chocolate products, and a cash prize of GH¢80,000, complemented by a tricycle from the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF). This initiative, in its third year, also awarded GH¢20,000 each to the Regional Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmers.

Solomon Tohola, National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer from Assin Foso in the Central Region, received a single cabin mini truck, safety equipment, and other farming tools.

In the shea crop category, Winifred Batabana, National Best Shea Picker from West Gonja in the Savannah Region, was awarded a tricycle, protective gear, and other essentials.

Victor Benefo, National Best Coffee Farmer from Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, was also presented with a tricycle, safety equipment, and additional tools to support his farming activities.

The event showcased Ghana’s continued commitment to celebrating excellence in agriculture, reinforcing the importance of innovation, sustainability, and farmer empowerment in driving the country’s economic growth.