SEND Ghana, the Ghana Civil Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) have held a stakeholder dialogue aimed at strengthening collaboration and continuous communication on ongoing cocoa sector reforms to help improve farm profitability and address the root causes of poverty among cocoa farmers in Ghana.
The dialogue comes at a time when cocoa farmers believe fair producer prices are critical to sustaining Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Convened by SEND Ghana, the meeting sought to address a broad range of issues raised by farmer leaders, particularly the persistent communication gap between cocoa producers and regulatory authorities.
The dialogue brought together more than 20 key stakeholders, including representatives of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited (GCCFA), GCCP, COCOBOD, Voice of African Farmers and the Cocoa Media Hub, to explore ways of ensuring continuous engagement and communication within the sector.
Discussions focused on regional and international cocoa issues, including the Free Inputs Distribution Programme, the Cocoa Management System (CMS), the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), ongoing COCOBOD reforms, productivity enhancement interventions, and the role of farmer leaders and civil society organisations in communicating these initiatives to cocoa farmers across the country.
In his welcome address, GCCP Coordinator and Programme Officer at SEND Ghana, Nana Kwasi Barning Ackah, outlined the platform’s mandate, highlighting regional cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire as a key pillar for cocoa sector reform.
He said strengthening independent farmer-based organisations is essential to safeguarding the Living Income Differential initiative while promoting long-term compliance with environmental and human rights standards.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Head of Public Affairs, Sam Jerome, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to working closely with civil society and farmer-based organisations to ensure cocoa sector reforms and interventions are well understood and effectively implemented for the benefit of farmers.
He described farmer-based organisations as key partners in information dissemination, stressing that effective policymaking depends on accurate and reliable data from cocoa-growing communities.
COCOBOD technical experts also provided updates on the Cocoa Management System (CMS) and the Cocoa Disease and Pest Control Programme (CODAPEC).
According to the Board, approximately 1.3 million cocoa farms have been mapped, with 795,923 farms validated. It added that about 89,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) and 26,000 pieces of equipment, including mist blowers, have been distributed to support cocoa production.
Farmer leaders welcomed the engagement, describing it as a timely opportunity to deepen their understanding of COCOBOD’s interventions, reforms and programmes.
They also highlighted challenges confronting cocoa farmers and called for sustained stakeholder engagement, transparent communication and continued collaboration to ensure farmers remain informed, actively involved and positioned to benefit from ongoing reforms.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to bridge the communication gap between cocoa producers and regulatory authorities as part of the ongoing reforms, with the aim of ensuring policies and interventions are clearly understood and effectively implemented for the benefit of farmers and their communities.