The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Anertey Abbey, has assured cocoa farmers that they will receive improved prices for their produce, despite ongoing challenges in the cocoa sector.
Speaking at a farmers’ rally in Attronso, Western North Region, Dr. Abbey announced that COCOBOD is currently reviewing the prices that farmers will be paid for cocoa in the 2025/2026 season. This initiative aims to enhance the livelihoods of farmers and make cocoa farming more appealing to younger generations.
“Even though we are facing financial difficulties, we are determined to pay cocoa farmers more,” he stated.
Dr. Abbey also highlighted concerns regarding the ageing population of cocoa farmers, emphasizing the need to attract more young people to the industry. He explained that COCOBOD is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to modernize cocoa farming by introducing new tools and equipment.
Addressing the impact of climate change on cocoa farming, Dr. Abbey noted that COCOBOD will prioritize the development of irrigation systems to assist farmers in coping with unpredictable rainfall. He encouraged farmers to form cooperatives to make irrigation projects more feasible and affordable.
“We can’t build irrigation systems for each farmer. It’s expensive, and illegal mining has affected water access. But we can do more through cooperatives,” he explained.
Additionally, Dr. Abbey discussed plans to strengthen laws protecting cocoa farms from destruction, particularly from illegal mining activities. He referred to cocoa farming as a source of “generational wealth” and underscored the necessity of robust legal protections.
He assured farmers that fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals would be delivered on time, warning against misuse or theft of these supplies, stating that those involved in such actions would face consequences.
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