The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr Ransford Anertey Abbey has appealed to Staff of the Cocoa industry to support him to bring Cocobod to the trajectory of positive progress and profitability, through prudent expenditure, innovation, research and strategic investment.
"I'm more than confident that with your support and diligence, Cocobod will rise again and provide tailor made services to support our farmers through good yields, promote sustainable farming practices and enhance the living standard of our cherished cocoa farmers and our dear nation."
He made this appeal in Accra, at the end of a month-long Heritage month celebration, which saw workers of the Board dressed in authentic Ghanaian made apparel throughout the month of March.
The Cocobod Chief noted that the Heritage month reminds us of our deep rooted connection between cocoa and our national identity, imploring staff not to see cocoa as just an economic crop, but also as the lifeblood of our people, the backbone of our rural communities and the pillar upon which Ghana's global reputation in the cocoa industry stands. He showered praises on Ghanaian cocoa farmers for having tilled the land with diligence to ensure that Ghana remains the world's leading producer of premium cocoa, not leaving out the contribution of other cocoa industry actors.
Dr, Abbey noted that workers must not lose sight of such challenges as Cocobod's indebtedness, climate change, aging farms, price volatility, galamsay and mismanagement, which have the potential to destroy the Cocoa industry, urging staff to fight them together.
"I wish to indicate that my administration will roll out policies and programmes to address these challenges for the good of our country and our cocoa farmers."
He encouraged staff to embrace the culture of diligence, handwork and the commitment to build a robust cocoa sector, adding his trust in the competencies in Cocobod staff and their ability to work together to build a resilient cocoa industry, promising that his administration will continue to invest in modern agricultural technologies such as irrigation, rehabilitation of farms, supporting the involvement of youth in cocoa farming and also ensuring prudent and patriotic financial investment decisions, aimed at guaranteeing that cocoa farmers get the best possible returns for their hard work.
Dr. Abbey minced no words in proclaiming that beyond the farms, the cocoa value chain presents many and varied opportunities for economic transformation, adding that Ghana must move from being just a producer and exporter of raw cocoa beans to a global powerhouse in cocoa processing and value addition.
Story: Joe Obeng Yeboah
