Ashanti cocoa farmers welcome new COCOBOD Act

Cocoa farmers and traditional leaders in Ghana's Ashanti Region have welcomed the newly enacted Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), expressing satisfaction with the provisions despite their initial anticipation of a higher producer price for the upcoming cocoa season. During the first phase of farmer and stakeholder engagements organized by COCOBOD in collaboration with the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), across seven cocoa-growing districts, participants discussed the new law, the producer price determination process, and measures to enhance productivity and farmers' livelihoods.

While some had hoped for a higher price, the explanations provided by COCOBOD helped them understand the decision-making process and the industry's broader challenges. Farmers and traditional leaders welcomed the reforms under the new act and emphasized the need for continued public education to ensure a better understanding of the legislation, especially provisions aimed at protecting cocoa-growing communities and farmlands from destructive activities like illegal mining and sand winning.

They also called for support in improving the free distribution of agricultural inputs and the speedy implementation of the proposed Farmer Pension Scheme to enhance the long-term welfare of cocoa farmers.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.