Government to acquire 200,000 hectares for cocoa plantations to boost production - Finance Minister

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced a government plan. The plan aims to acquire 200,000 hectares of land for cocoa plantations. This effort seeks to revive the struggling cocoa sector. The goal is to restore production levels to one million metric tonnes.

Dr. Forson spoke at the inauguration of a new eleven-member Board of Directors for COCOBOD. He emphasized the urgent need for bold actions. Cocoa production has sharply declined from one million metric tonnes to about 500,000 metric tonnes in recent years.

As a member of the COCOBOD Board, Dr. Forson reaffirmed the government's commitment. He wants cocoa to remain a cornerstone of the national economy. "Cocoa has always been our economy's mainstay," he stated.

He noted that mismanagement in recent years caused significant downturns. This affected both production and financial stability in the sector. "It is time to act decisively," he said.

The government plans to establish plantation farms through COCOBOD. They will acquire about 200 hectares of cocoa land for this purpose. This initiative will support existing smallholder farmers and promote sustainable growth.

Dr. Forson also mentioned the need to address diseased farms urgently. Farms in the Western Region are particularly problematic, affecting output and farmers' livelihoods. He pledged unwavering support from the Finance Ministry for COCOBOD's turnaround agenda.

The newly inaugurated board's chairman, Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, made a promise as well. He vowed to reset, retool, and reposition COCOBOD as a model institution.