THE INSPIRING STORY OF MR.GEORGE OPOKU KODUAH: 2023 MOST PROMISING YOUNG COCOA FARMER

Date: 28th December 2023

Life they say, begins at 40, but for George, the 2023 National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer, this thing called life with its hassle and bustle began 13 years ago when he ventured into the lucrative cocoa business. 

To say he has peaked too early will be highly unfair. Like Henry Longfellow said “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight but they were toiling upward in the night”. George’s journey to agrarian stardom has not happened on a silver platter, it has come about through dint of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

But in a society that hardly rewards agrarian efforts and has ingloriously described it as job exclusively reserved for the old, the likes of George are defying the odds and changing the old negative narrative and inspiring hope in the young generation.

Probably there are few more George Opokus out there holding onto the anchor of Ghana's economy and particularly the cocoa sector. 

From a humble background as a Senior High School graduate with additional training from Cocoa Health and Extension Division’s Farmers Business School, George shot into the limelight in 2019 when he won the District Best Cocoa Farmer for Prestea, took it a notch higher the following year as the Municipal Best Farmer (General farming) in 2020 at Anyinase before crowning it with a Regional Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer Award for Western Region in 2022. Those who are conversant with cocoa production data and regional nuance in Ghana are not oblivious of the fact that Western Region is one of the major hubs of cocoa and so to emerge a winner does not come easy, but George scaled through at the age of 34. Indeed, the sky was only a limit for him. A year later, young George has achieved yet again another milestone, winning the highest National Young Cocoa Farmer Award at the recently held Farmers’ Day and Awards Night celebration at Tarkwa in the Western Region.

Farm History & Labour Strength 

George owns five farms with a total size of 20.27 hectares, equal to 0.2027kilometers square, all located in Opokukrom in the Prestea District of the Western Region. Acquiring the land through outright purchase and inheritance from his father’s family, George began his farming career by sourcing planting materials from the Seed Production Division, Saaman Cocoa Station. With a labour strength of more than 30 and fleet of farming tools, equipment and machinery, including serviceable motorized and pneumatic spraying machines, pruners and harvesting hooks, George can boast of a total crop yield of at least 47,983.35kg, which translates into an average of 2,367.21kg/ha.   

Additional Livelihood & Social Responsibility 

The ‘enterprising’ George approaches farming with lots of dynamism and diversification. Aside the cocoa farms, George is also into the cultivation of other food crops such as cocoyam, plantain, maize and rice, as well as rearing of livestock including flocks of sheep and poultry.

The 2023 National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer is not just a farmer but also a community benefactor.  Beyond his personal achievements, George has also contributed immensely towards the development of his community. His philanthropy extends to areas of roads and educational infrastructure. He has supported the construction of bridges, teachers’ accommodation quarters and kindergarten blocks for his community, as well as clearing of roads to his cottage.

At the age of 35, George has a strong dedication to creating a sustainable future for cocoa farming. He also believes in inspiring and nurturing the next generation of cocoa farmers. It is his hope that his achievements will be a source of inspiration to young and upcoming Ghanaians to venture into the lucrative business of cocoa farming. 

To him, with strong commitment and dedication, nothing is impossible. Rising through the ranks to become a national best cocoa farming awardee is an evidence of his unwavering determination and passion for the industry.

Kudos to you George!!