The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, on 11th August 2021, inaugurated the newly-constituted Board of Ghana Cocoa Board [COCOBOD] on behalf of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The 11-Member Board, made up of representatives from various institutions, is chaired by Mr. Peter Mac Manu, a former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Other members include the Governor of Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, a Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Herbert Krapa, the CEO of COCOBOD, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, (Nana Adwoa Dokua, Nana Kwadwo Asante)- President Nominees, Mr. Edward Okoh Ampofo-Senior Staff Association, Nana Johnson Mensa and Nana Obeng Akrofi.
In a short remark, the Minister reminded the Board members about the daunting task ahead of them as handlers of one of the key strategic sectors of the country’s economy.
He continued by encouraging them to work hard in order to consolidate the gains made so far in the agricultural sector, particularly in the cocoa industry, under His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led administration.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, more over, made a passion appeal to the Board to ensure effective and efficient operationalization of the Ghana-Cote D’ivoire Cocoa Initiative programme which is aimed at improving the cocoa sector and ensuring the welfare of our gallant cocoa farmers.
COCOBOD
The Ghana Cocoa Board was established by ordinance in 1947 with the sum of ¢ 27 million (being Ghana’s share of the net profit of the West African Produce Control Board) as its initial working capital. The Board traces its beginning further back to the cocoa hold-up of 1937.
The Board first rented and occupied the old premises of the Export Produce Control Board on 28th February Road, Accra, and when Swan Mill, which was built by the United Africa Company Limited was completed, it rented part of it at an annual cost of approximately ¢ 4,500.00 after which it acquired its own building.
In 1957, the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah the then President of the Republic of Ghana, laid the foundation stone to mark the construction of Cocoa House at 41 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Accra to provide offices for the Board.
The mission of the Board is to encourage and facilitate the production, processing and marketing of good quality cocoa, coffee and sheanut in all forms in the most efficient and cost effective manner.