- COCOBOD struggling to meet cocoa production targets.
- Mismanagement and poor leadership to blame - Ato Forson.
- Ghana's reputation on international market at risk.
- Gov't urged to act to save cocoa industry.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed grave concerns about the ability of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to meet its international obligations. According to Dr. Forson, COCOBOD is struggling to produce enough cocoa to meet its contractual commitments with global partners, a situation he attributes to mismanagement and poor decision-making by the current leadership.
Dr. Forson took to Twitter on Thursday, August 22, to highlight the severity of the situation, stating that COCOBOD’s challenges in meeting production targets could have severe implications for Ghana’s reputation on the international market. He noted that COCOBOD’s inability to produce enough cocoa has resulted in the organisation being “chased away” from the market, due to a lack of creditworthiness and credibility.
Dr. Forson emphasized that this situation is a far cry from COCOBOD’s previous successes under past administrations, where the organisation was able to meet its production targets and maintain a strong reputation globally. The Minority Leader urged the government to take immediate action to prevent further damage to Ghana’s cocoa industry, which is a critical sector of the country’s economy.
He emphasized the need for transparent and effective leadership at COCOBOD, to ensure that the organisation can regain its footing and continue to play its critical role in the country’s economy.
Dr. Forson’s concerns come at a time when Ghana’s cocoa industry is facing numerous challenges, including fluctuations in global cocoa prices and competition from other cocoa-producing countries.
The government has been called upon to address these challenges and ensure that COCOBOD is able to meet its international obligations and maintain its reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality cocoa. If the situation is not addressed, Ghana’s cocoa industry risks losing its competitive edge and suffering long-term damage to its reputation and economy.
