MAY DAY MESSAGE TO STAFF - DR RANSFORD ABBEY

Date: 01st May 2026

Happy Workers' Day to you all!

On behalf of the Board and Management of COCOBOD, we say 'Ayekoo' to each and every worker whose toil and dedication have kept the wheels of Ghana's cocoa sector running.

We have indeed gone through very difficult times over the past year, yet we have remained steadfast and resolute.

When it became necessary to make sacrifices for the good of the sector, you stood firmly by us and demonstrated not only to us but to the entire Ghanaian community that we are united in a common purpose. We are deeply appreciative of your support.

Today, as the world marks this auspicious day, we salute you for your resilience and solid commitment to working with all stakeholders to advance the agenda and policy direction of our industry.

From the field staff who work tirelessly in the remotest cocoa-growing communities, to those in our offices across the cocoa regions, we say, "you deserve a well-earned pat on the shoulder"

Colleagues, even as we celebrate you, let us remain mindful of the tasks ahead. This year will demand even greater effort, and the momentum we seek to build in our programmes and policies will require renewed commitment from us all.

We are optimistic that you will continue to discharge your responsibilities effectively and efficiently, particularly to support the implementation our flagship programmes and policies such as the free fertiliser and agro-chemicals distribution, free personal protective equipment, tertiary education scholarship, 50% local cocoa value addition drive, rehabilitation of swollen-shoot Infected farms, roll out of a new robust funding model, a new COCOBOD Act, a new pricing mechanism just to mention but a few. These reforms hold significant importance in our shared ambition to transform the cocoa sector.

I therefore urge you all to brace yourselves for action as we roll out these strategic policies and programmes to support our cocoa farmers and build a resilient sector.

Once again, I wish you all a Happy Workers' Day.