Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has launched the 2022 Cocoa Day celebration with an exhibition at Suhum in the Eastern Region.
The four days of the exhibition will showcase varieties of cocoa products from the various stakeholders in the value chain of products such as cocoa and chocolate producers, agrochemical and input suppliers, financial institutions, and NGOs.
Prior to the exhibition, stakeholders including farmers in the cocoa industry, embarked on a float through some principal streets of Suhum, to demonstrate the importance of cocoa production to national development.
This year’s Cocoa Day is under the theme, “COCOBOD @ 75: Sustaining our Environment, Wealth and Health.
Delivering the keynote address, the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, reassured farmers that, the government will continue to implement policies and programs which seek to improve the socio-economic well-being of farmers.
He explained that Ghana’s effort to sustain the cocoa industry witnessed the launching of vigorous campaigns to eradicate the swollen shoot disease which has been one of the major setbacks in the history of cocoa cultivation.
The Minister reiterated that the proliferation of illegal mining activities in cocoa-growing communities has in recent times been a cause for concern to government and other stakeholders, adding that, the activities of illegal miners in cocoa farms affect the environment and water bodies which invariably impacts negatively on the socio-economic fabric of the communities.
On his part, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Cocobod, Emmanuel Ray Ankrah, said the theme is a challenging one that epitomizes the policy direction of the Board to protect the cocoa economy by securing sustainable farming practices alongside boosting domestic cocoa consumption.
The cocoa sector, he said, yet remains attractive and promising, following the major strategic programs introduced to increase productivity, enhanced the welfare and living standards of cocoa farmers, and support the growth of domestic cocoa processing and value-addition.
He stated that in the effort to improve the livelihood of cocoa farmers in the country, the sector is characterized by numerous challenges as illegal miners continue to destroy healthy trees of cocoa farms which is affecting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
He said that the sector is on a massive sensitization campaign to ensure a conducive environment is created for the sustainable industry.
The Member of Parliament for Suhum, Oboafo Kwadwo Asante, commended the president and the cocobod sector for the numerous interventions in the constituency and the region, which have improved the livelihood of constituents.
The Chief of Suhum, OSABARIMA AYEH KOFI II who chaired the ceremony commended the government and the cocoa board for choosing Suhum and the Eastern Region to mark the 75th cocoa day anniversary.
He encouraged cocoa farmers in the municipality to grow more to boost cocoa production and sustain food security in the country.
He, therefore, assured traditional authority’s support for cocoa farmers across the region for the sustainable development of the sector.
