Government is committed to raising cocoa production to a minimum 1 million tonnes, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.
In addition to this, Mr Akufo-Addo said more than 50 per cent of Ghana’s cocoa beans would be processed in the country.
The President disclosed this on Tuesday 28 March when he swore in members of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board at the Flagstaff House.
“The government of the New Patriotic Party and I have made a commitment to raising production levels of cocoa to at least 1 million tonnes and to process more than 50 per cent of our cocoa beans here at home. We have committed ourselves into finding new markets and improving our standing in the cocoa value chain. In other words, we are determined to make it again a lucrative industry,” he stated.
Mr Akufo-Addo said for his government to succeed, he would need the “full cooperation and involvement” of the board.
The president expressed confidence in the new board and the CEO of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, to turn the fortunes of cocoa production in the country. “I believe the chairman of the board and the CEO of COCOBOD has the qualities and abilities at this very delicate moment in the life of the industry. The other members of the board have been chosen equally carefully to enable them make a good contribution to the restoration of Ghana’s pride of a vibrant cocoa industry,” he added.
The Chairman of the board, Hackman Owusu Agyemang, assured the president that although there were enormous challenges facing the sector, it would devise a mechanism to redeem the image of the sector.
Source:Ghana/AccrFM.com
