Last year, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) invested nearly a billion cedis in revitalizing aging cocoa farms and those damaged by swollen shoot diseases to boost national cocoa production in the short to medium term.
This investment builds on similar efforts in previous years to replace farms affected by the virus, which have contributed to recent declines in cocoa production.
In an interview, COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boahen Aidoo emphasized that the initiative is designed to sustain cocoa production and enhance farmers’ livelihoods. He expressed confidence that Ghana will produce over 800,000 metric tonnes of cocoa in the upcoming 2024/25 season, starting in September.
In response to media reports that COCOBOD’s administrative expenses surged to GH¢3.4 billion last year amid a decline in cocoa production, CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo and Deputy CEO for Finance and Administration, Ray Ankrah, provided clarification.
Mr. Aidoo explained that the funds were allocated for critical activities such as clearing diseased and ageing farms, nurturing and planting seedlings, and maintaining rehabilitated farms before they were handed over to farmers nationwide.
He emphasized that this strategic investment in both farmers and farms contributed to the increased administrative costs of GH¢3.4 billion in 2023.
Mr. Aidoo clarified that it is misleading to imply that the entire amount was spent at COCOBOD’s head office, as a significant portion was directed towards enhancing cocoa production and supporting the well-being of farmers.
