Ghana COCOBOD launches nationwide campaign to explain new cocoa law
COCOBOD has begun nationwide consultations to explain the new cocoa law while concerns grow over penalties for converting cocoa farms to other uses.
GHANA – The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has launched a nationwide stakeholder engagement campaign to educate cocoa industry participants about the newly enacted Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, as the country moves to strengthen oversight of the sector.
The initiative began at Cocoa House in Accra, where representatives from cocoa farmer-based organisations, civil society groups and the Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana (LICOBAG) met with COCOBOD executives to discuss the legislation and its implementation.
The engagement programme is intended to improve understanding of the law and ensure its effective adoption throughout Ghana’s cocoa industry.
In a statement, the regulator said: “Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has commenced a nationwide stakeholder engagement series following the passage of the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, beginning with key actors in Ghana’s cocoa sector at Cocoa House, Accra.”
According to COCOBOD, discussions led by Chief Executive Dr Randy Abbey and members of the management team focused on the board’s mandate, regulatory oversight, financing policies, producer pricing mechanisms, cocoa farm protection measures, traceability requirements, licensing procedures and the farmer pension scheme established under the legislation.
The board said the engagement process is designed to clarify the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders while encouraging broader participation in implementing the reforms. Following the national consultations, the programme will be expanded to regional, district and cocoa society levels.
COCOBOD added that the initiative is intended to build confidence in the new framework and support the smooth rollout of the legislation across the country’s cocoa-growing regions.
The stakeholder consultations come as debate continues over another provision contained in the new law. Ghana’s Parliament recently passed legislation that could impose prison sentences of up to 20 years on farmers who convert cocoa farms to other uses without obtaining official approval.
The proposed measures would grant protected status to cocoa farms and make unauthorised land conversion a criminal offence. The legislation is still awaiting presidential approval.
The proposal has generated criticism from some industry participants. Moses Djan Asiedu, administrator of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited and a cocoa farmer, said: “If the law stands as it is now, it’s not fair.”
COCOBOD said ongoing consultations will help address concerns while supporting the implementation of the new regulatory framework governing Ghana’s cocoa industry.
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