Deputy Minister Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Supporting Cocoa Farmers and Combating Deforestation
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Akwasi Konadu, has announced a series of government initiatives aimed at addressing deforestation linked to cocoa production.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry and its partners, he highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their families.
During the fifth Cocoa and Forest National Oversight Committee Meeting on Friday, October 4, 2024, Mr. Konadu noted several efforts by the government, including the introduction of the Green Ghana Project, the passage of the Wildlife Management Resource Bill, and initiatives like REDD+ and CREMAs.
These measures aim to boost forest conservation while supporting cocoa-growing communities.
Mr. Konadu also urged the companies present to focus on securing sustainable funding for the operations of the CFI National Secretariat, which he identified as a major challenge.
The President of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Mr. Chris Vincent, praised Ghana’s collaboration with WCF in tackling the systemic issues of deforestation associated with cocoa farming and the restoration of degraded forests. He noted, “Through this partnership, we have achieved significant milestones in Ghana over the past year.”
Mr. Vincent emphasized that the CFI partnership will further advance critical efforts in forest protection and restoration while also strengthening farmer livelihoods and enhancing the resilience of the cocoa supply chain.
The Technical Director for Forestry at the Ministry, Mr. Joseph Osiakwan, presented key milestones of the CFI since the last meeting. Collective recommendations and decisions were made by representatives from various cocoa companies during the gathering.
