The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey, has assured cocoa farmers that their welfare will be at the heart of the board’s financial decisions.
Speaking at his first stakeholder engagement since assuming office, Dr. Abbey emphasized the need to redirect COCOBOD’s finances to ensure fair compensation for farmers.
He reiterated that farmers are the backbone of Ghana’s cocoa value chain and should be well taken care of to encourage sustainable and high-quality production.
“The cocoa farmer is at the center of everything we do. Their concerns and needs must be prioritized to ensure the continuous growth of the industry,” Dr. Abbey stated. He also pledged to maintain open communication with farmers and involve them in key decision-making processes.
Beyond improving farmer welfare, Dr. Abbey highlighted the need to embrace large-scale cocoa farming as a long-term strategy for sustaining production.
He expressed his commitment to continuing major initiatives started by COCOBOD to enhance productivity in the sector.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee, and Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE), Imoro Issifu Alhassan, outlined pressing issues affecting cocoa production.
He cited illegal mining (galamsey) as a significant threat that has contributed to a decline in yields, describing the current state of cocoa production as one of the lowest in Ghana’s history.
“Farmers’ welfare has suffered, and cocoa production is at an unprecedented low. Urgent action is needed to restore the sector to its former glory,” Alhassan cautioned.
