See the 11 members of the new COCOBOD Board
An eleven-member Board of Directors for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been inaugurated at the Ministry of Finance, with a renewed charge to revitalise the struggling cocoa sector and restore its historical economic significance.
The newly constituted board is chaired by Dr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and includes key national figures such as the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson (MP), and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama. Other members are 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.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Minister for Energy, John Jinapor, who also doubles as the Alternate Minister for Finance. In his address, Mr Jinapor voiced concern over the dramatic decline in cocoa production, which he said had dropped from a peak of one million metric tonnes to around 500,000 metric tonnes in recent years. He described the state of COCOBOD as alarming but expressed confidence that the new board had the requisite expertise, experience, and credibility to restore the institution’s prestige.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, addressing the gathering, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the board once again, recalling his previous tenure as Deputy Finance Minister. He explained that under a new legal framework, both the Minister for Finance and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana are now statutory members of the COCOBOD board.
Dr Forson stressed the central role of cocoa in Ghana’s economic fabric, describing it as “the jewel of the economy.” He bemoaned recent mismanagement in the sector and outlined an ambitious government plan to acquire 200,000 hectares of land for plantation farming in a bid to restore production to one million metric tonnes. He further tasked the board to take immediate steps to address the prevalence of cocoa diseases, particularly in the Western Region, which he said continues to undermine productivity. The Finance Ministry, he assured, will offer full support to COCOBOD in achieving its turnaround agenda.
Board Chairman Dr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, in his acceptance speech, thanked the President for entrusting the board with such a crucial national mandate. He described their role as both a privilege and a heavy responsibility, pledging to lead a reformative agenda to “reset, retool, and reimagine” COCOBOD into a centre of excellence.
Dr Ofosu Ampofo also called on political leaders to take a hands-on approach to agriculture, suggesting that their direct involvement in farming would set an example for the nation’s youth and rekindle interest in agriculture.
