An eleven-member Board of Directors for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance. The board is tasked with reversing the declining fortunes of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The new board is chaired by Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and includes prominent figures such as Minister for Finance Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Johnson Asiama, Chief Executive Randy Abbey, Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, Deputy Minister for Trade Samson Ahi, Deputy Minister for Agriculture John Dumelo, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, Nana Charles Owusu, and Eric Turkson.
Energy Minister John Jinapor chaired the inauguration ceremony and expressed concern over COCOBOD’s current state. He noted that while it was once a symbol of economic strength in Ghana, production has dropped from 1 million metric tonnes to about 500,000 metric tonnes. Despite this decline, Mr. Jinapor voiced confidence in the newly formed board’s ability to restore COCOBOD’s status.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson highlighted cocoa’s vital role in Ghana’s economy and criticized recent mismanagement within COCOBOD. He outlined government plans to acquire 200 hectares for plantation farms to boost production back to 1 million metric tonnes and urged action on diseased farms affecting productivity.
Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo expressed gratitude to the President for their appointments and pledged a transformational agenda for the cocoa sector. He emphasized a commitment to “reset, retool, and reimagine” COCOBOD and called on political leaders to engage in farming activities as an example for youth.
