Ghana to acquire 200,000 Ha for cocoa plantations in bid to restore production 

GHANA – The Government of Ghana has announced plans to acquire 200,000 hectares of land to establish cocoa plantations in a renewed effort to revive the country’s cocoa sector.  

The move aims to restore annual production levels to one million metric tonnes. 

This announcement was made by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, who underscored the critical need for strategic interventions to halt the sector’s decline.  

Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has seen its cocoa output plummet to around 500,000 metric tonnes—half of its previous peak—due to climate change, the spread of tree diseases, and widespread destruction from illegal gold mining activities. 

Forson, who also sits on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), reiterated the government’s commitment to positioning cocoa as the backbone of the national economy. 

“Cocoa has always been the mainstay of our economy, and that must not change,” he stated, adding that years of poor management have adversely affected both production and financial stability within the sector. 

The proposed 200,000 hectares of cocoa plantation land, to be managed through COCOBOD, will support and supplement existing smallholder operations. Forson noted that this approach will promote long-term sustainability and a resurgence in production. 

In addition to the land acquisition, Forson called for swift action to address cocoa tree diseases, particularly in the Western Region, where productivity continues to be significantly affected.  

He pledged strong support from the Ministry of Finance to COCOBOD’s efforts to stabilise and revamp the cocoa industry. 

Meanwhile, cocoa farmers are anticipating the new farm-gate prices for the 2025/2026 cocoa season, expected to be announced by COCOBOD in August.  

According to COCOBOD CEO Ransford Abbey, Ghana’s new price is projected to surpass that of Côte d’Ivoire, potentially positioning the country as a leader in cocoa pricing across West Africa. 

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