A new board has been established to steer the affairs of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), with Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo appointed as chairman. The 11-member board comprises several notable national leaders, including Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (MP) and Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama.
Other members of the board are Randy Abbey (Chief Executive), Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, Deputy Trade Minister Samson Ahi, Deputy Agriculture Minister John Dumelo, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, Nana Charles Owusu, and Eric Turkson.
The board was formally inaugurated in a ceremony led by Energy Minister John Jinapor, who also serves as Alternate Minister for Finance. Addressing attendees, Mr. Jinapor expressed serious concern about the state of Ghana’s cocoa industry, highlighting a steep decline in output—from a historic peak of one million metric tonnes to nearly half that volume in recent years. He described the situation at COCOBOD as dire but stated that the new board brings the capability and credibility needed to revitalize the institution.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, speaking at the event, welcomed the opportunity to return to the board, referencing his prior experience as Deputy Finance Minister. He emphasized that, under revised legislation, both the Finance Minister and the Bank of Ghana Governor now serve as statutory members of the board.
Dr. Forson reaffirmed cocoa’s vital role in Ghana’s economy, calling it “the jewel of the economy.” He criticized recent governance issues in the sector and revealed that the government is planning to secure 200,000 hectares of land to boost cocoa plantation farming. He urged the board to tackle the persistent spread of cocoa-related diseases, especially in the Western Region, which continues to affect yields. He pledged the Finance Ministry’s full backing in supporting COCOBOD’s reform and recovery efforts.
In his remarks, newly appointed Board Chair Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo thanked the President for the confidence placed in the board. He described their appointment as both an honor and a serious responsibility, committing to an ambitious transformation strategy to “reset, retool, and reimagine” COCOBOD into a leading institution.
Dr. Ofosu Ampofo also encouraged political leaders to personally engage in farming activities, suggesting their participation would inspire the youth and renew national interest in agriculture.
Source: Other News Agencies
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