GHANA COCOA MONITOR LAUNCHED

Date: 08th July 2025

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), in partnership with the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and other stakeholders, has officially launched the Ghana Cocoa Monitor at the Accra City Hotel.

The platform aims to unite government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and cocoa farmers in addressing critical challenges within the cocoa industry, including child labour, deforestation, and climate change.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Dr. Isaac Manu, Director of Research, highlighted the importance of political will and collaborative effort in ensuring the success of the initiative. He likened the platform to a newborn that requires nurturing, support, and the right environment to thrive and positively impact the sector.

"This platform is our baby born out of the lessons from recent challenges, including the fallout from the Farmers’ Union and events of the past year," Dr. Manu stated. "It must be nurtured with commitment and dedication to grow into a force that helps resolve longstanding issues in the cocoa sector."

Dr. Manu emphasised that the Ghana Cocoa Monitor stands apart from previous efforts due to its inclusive and engaging approach. Unlike earlier platforms that saw limited participation, this new initiative has generated considerable enthusiasm from stakeholders across the value chain.

He further stressed that the challenges facing the cocoa industry are too complex to be tackled by a single group, calling for a multi-stakeholder, politically driven push to drive sustainable solutions.

"We all know the sector’s difficulties. The way forward is through a unified front committed to making this platform a success for the sustainability of our cocoa sector in the years ahead," he concluded.

Representing the European Union, Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Irchad Razaaly also called for inclusive participation from all relevant institutions and organisations to help create a thriving and sustainable cocoa sector, especially to encourage youth involvement in cocoa farming.

"COCOBOD, government agencies, private entities, Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), and civil society groups all have critical roles to play in driving the success of this monitoring platform," he noted.

Ambassador Razaaly highlighted the importance of adding value to cocoa locally and strengthening processing capabilities to ensure Ghana and its farmers benefit more directly from their labour.

He concluded by urging all stakeholders along the cocoa value chain to support and promote the Ghana Cocoa Monitor, ensuring its impact is felt by the farmers and the sector as a whole.

The president of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers & Marketing Association Ltd, Mr Issifu Issaka called on all to make the platform independent and transparent.

“If we are saying that the platform is for our good, then if we, the cocoa farmers, are involved, we will protect and nurture it and to serve our interests best”, he said.