The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, has vehemently rejected claims that the Cocoa Board Bill 2026, which reforms the cocoa sector, will restrict farmers’ ability to intercrop cocoa with other crops, asserting that such assertions are deliberate misinformation intended to undermine the legislation’s aims.
Dr. Abbey stated that the bill’s primary focus is to bolster cocoa farm protection, addressing persistent challenges including devastating cocoa farm losses, inadequate financing, weak financial controls, limited domestic processing, and insufficient returns for farmers. He emphasized the urgent need to combat escalating instances of illegal mining, logging, and real estate development which are contributing to these losses, citing a weekly stream of farmer petitions complaining about property destruction.
He explained that the bill’s specific provisions center on authorizing destruction or removal of cocoa trees, except for authorized rehabilitation programs, reflecting a commitment to protecting cocoa trees and farms from destruction rather than restricting crop cultivation. Dr. Abbey accused individuals and groups of deliberately distorting the Bill’s content, arguing that such misrepresentations could jeopardize intended reforms aimed at strengthening the industry.
The proposed legislation introduces tighter financial controls at COCOBOD, including increased compliance with the Public Financial Management Act, to mitigate risks associated with significant financial exposure. Specifically, the bill establishes a new cocoa pricing framework wherein farmers receive 70% of the gross free-on-board value of cocoa, with producer prices subject to review in response to international market indicators. According to Dr. Abbey, this arrangement aims to ensure farmers benefit from rising global cocoa prices while simultaneously minimizing financial losses during periods of market volatility.
Furthermore, the bill proposes a new cocoa pricing framework to improve the sector’s financial sustainability. It also outlines a new cocoa pricing framework designed to improve the industry’s financial stability, strengthen farmer welfare, promote local processing, and drive the industrialization of the cocoa value chain. The COCOBOD plans to use this legislation to significantly overhaul the sector since 1984, highlighting the reforms’ intended goals as improvements to the sector’s financial sustainability, farmer welfare, and the promotion of a robust cocoa industry.
According to Dr. Abbey, the Bill represents the most significant overhaul of Ghana’s cocoa industry since 1984. The reforms are intended to enhance the sector’s financial viability, bolster farmer welfare, and facilitate the industrialization of the cocoa value chain. The legislation underscores a strategic approach to ensuring the long-term sustainability of cocoa production within Ghana and across the region.
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Source: Adom Online
