Ashanti cocoa farmers welcome new COCOBOD Bill, back key reforms

Cocoa farmers in the Ashanti Region have warmly received the passage of the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, showing support for reforms designed to safeguard their interests and promote the industry's long-term sustainability. The farmers, representing Juaben, Asiwa, Juaso, and Konongo, voiced their approval at a significant stakeholder sensitization rally organized by COCOBOD in Konongo, just one week after the Bill received parliamentary approval.

This marked the first major farmer rally in the cocoa-growing areas since the Bill's passage and was part of COCOBOD's initiative to communicate the legislation directly to farmers and grassroots stakeholders. Led by Dr. Richard Adu Acheampong and Mr. Benjamin Teye Larweh, the discussions shed light on the Bill's purpose, key provisions, and anticipated advantages for farmers and the cocoa sector.

Topics covered included farmer welfare, producer pricing protection, preservation of cocoa farms, countermeasures against land degradation and cocoa smuggling, financing for the cocoa sector, pension schemes for farmers, educational assistance for children of farmers, local processing, stakeholder involvement, and measures to enhance governance and financial stability in the sector.

Clarifications were provided to dispel misconceptions, such as the belief that farmers would be barred from cultivating food crops on their cocoa farms or that COCOBOD could seize their land. Farmers were informed that the Bill does not restrict intercropping, which remains a recommended agricultural practice, and that the legislation does not transfer land ownership to COCOBOD but aims to protect cocoa farms from illegal destruction and conversion to incompatible uses.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Asante Akim North, Hon. Sarah Amoako, praised the cocoa industry and farmers for their contributions to Ghana's socioeconomic progress. She praised COCOBOD for engaging with farmers directly and called on them to engage local government bodies on issues such as road infrastructure, emphasizing that COCOBOD should focus on regulating, developing, and promoting the cocoa industry, while other institutions handle general community development.

Farmers actively participated in the discussions, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to interact with COCOBOD officials and requesting ongoing education about the new legal framework and its implications for their livelihoods. The meeting also included representatives from the Asante Akim Central Municipal Assembly, the Ashanti Regional COCOSHE Secretary, the Konongo District Chief Farmer, local media, and other stakeholders.