Agric Minister Eric Opoku Calls for Urgent Reforms to Revive Ghana’s Cocoa Sector
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has expressed concern over the current state of Ghana’s cocoa sector, stressing the urgent need for policy interventions to reset and rejuvenate the industry.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the minister highlighted key challenges affecting cocoa production, including declining output and financial burdens on COCOBOD due to excessive road contracts. He assured lawmakers that the government is working on measures to boost cocoa production and ensure transparency in all interventions.
Hon. Eric Opoku emphasized the importance of introducing strategic policies to revamp the cocoa sector and maximize benefits for cocoa farmers.
“What we have to do now is to come up with policies that will ensure the rejuvenation of the cocoa sector, to reset the entire cocoa sector, increase cocoa production so that we can maximize the benefits for our cocoa farmers,” he stated.
He also stressed the need for transparency in government interventions, urging policymakers to keep cocoa farmers informed about ongoing initiatives to address sector challenges.
“There’s a need for us to indicate to them measures we are putting in place to address them. But for them to have a better appreciation of the measures, they must know the true state now so that they will all agree that these measures are good measures to address them,” he added.
The minister also highlighted the poor state of roads leading to cocoa-growing areas, noting that fixing these roads is crucial for boosting cocoa production.
“Mr. Speaker, somebody also spoke about cocoa roads. This is a serious matter that we are looking at. The argument advanced was that to be able to increase cocoa production, we have to fix all the roads leading to cocoa-growing areas.”
Hon. Opoku revealed that contracts for cocoa roads had increased significantly over the past eight years, leading to a financial strain on COCOBOD.
“In 2017, when the NPP assumed office, we had awarded contracts amounting to GH¢5.1 billion. But today, we are told that cocoa road contracts awarded in the last eight years have ballooned to GH¢21 billion, creating a financial burden on COCOBOD.”
He further admitted that contracts had been over-awarded, making it difficult for COCOBOD to meet payment obligations.
“The problem on our hands today is that we have over-awarded the contracts. COCOBOD does not have the capacity to pay. So now, they are asking us in the handing over to do rationalization. And rationalization has begun.”
The minister assured Parliament that the government is taking steps to sanitize the process, including terminating, repackaging, and re-awarding some contracts to ensure that cocoa roads are properly developed.
Hon. Opoku refuted claims that cocoa production has increased in recent years, describing such assertions as inaccurate.
He pointed out that Ghana’s cocoa production peaked at 1,047,000 tons in 2021, marking the highest production in the country’s history.
“Cocoa production peaked in 2021 at 1,047,000 tons. Unprecedented in the history of Ghana. 1,047,000 tons.”
However, he expressed concern over the sharp decline in production, stating that current figures are around 500,000 tons, the lowest in the past two decades.
“But as we speak, it’s around 500,000 tons. 500,000 tons. The lowest in the past two decades was recorded in 2024.”
The Minister of Food and Agriculture’s statements indicate that urgent reforms are needed to revive Ghana’s cocoa sector. With declining production, financial challenges at COCOBOD, and infrastructural concerns, the government is expected to take decisive steps to reset the industry and ensure sustainability.
As Ghana remains a leading cocoa producer, these interventions will be crucial for securing the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and maintaining the sector’s contribution to the national economy