Samuel Ofosu Ampofo chairs reconstituted Ghana Cocoa Board

An eleven-member Board of Directors for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) was officially inaugurated in a concise yet meaningful ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance, accompanied by urgent calls to revive the struggling cocoa sector.

The new board is led by Chairman Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and includes prominent figures such as Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson; Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama; Chief Executive Randy Abbey; Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah; Vincent Oppong Asamoah; Deputy Minister for Trade Samson Ahi; Deputy Minister for Agriculture John Dumelo; Alhaji Alhassan Bukari; Nana Charles Owusu; and Eric Turkson.

Energy Minister John Jinapor, who also serves as the Alternate Minister for Finance, presided over the inauguration. In his address, Hon. Jinapor congratulated the board members but expressed deep concern about COCOBOD’s current challenges.

He observed that “while the institution was once a shining symbol of Ghana's economic strength, recent years have seen a worrying decline,” pointing out that cocoa production, which once peaked at 1 million metric tonnes, has fallen to approximately 500,000 metric tonnes.

Nonetheless, Mr. Jinapor conveyed strong confidence in the new board’s expertise and integrity, believing they are well-equipped to restore COCOBOD’s former prominence.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who returns to the board after previously serving as Deputy Finance Minister, expressed his appreciation for the chance to serve again. He explained that “the new law governing COCOBOD mandates the inclusion of both the Finance Minister and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana on its board.”

Describing cocoa as the “jewel of the economy,” Dr. Forson emphasized its vital role in Ghana’s economic fabric and lamented the “massive mismanagement” COCOBOD has suffered in recent years.

He outlined the government’s plan to acquire about 200,000 hectares of land for new cocoa plantations, aiming to restore production to 1 million metric tonnes.

Dr. Forson also called on the board to “decisively address the issue of diseased cocoa farms,” particularly in the Western Region, where these problems continue to reduce output. He assured COCOBOD of full support from the Ministry of Finance in all its efforts.

The newly sworn-in Chairman, Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, thanked the President for entrusting the board with this responsibility. He described their appointment as both an honour and a duty, pledging on behalf of the board members to lead a transformational agenda for the cocoa industry.

Dr. Ofosu Ampofo vowed to “reset, retool, and reimagine” COCOBOD, aiming to restore it as a cornerstone institution in Ghana’s economy.

He also called on political leaders to “lead by example by actively engaging in farming” to inspire the younger generation.