Ghana Plans 200,000 Hectares Land Acquisition to Revive Cocoa Production

Ghana's government, led by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, announced a plan to acquire 200,000 hectares of land to establish large-scale cocoa plantations aimed at reviving the country's cocoa sector and restoring production to one million metric tonnes. This initiative responds to a steep decline in cocoa output, which has fallen to about 500,000 metric tonnes due to factors including climate change, diseases like swollen shoot, and illegal mining. The plantations will complement smallholder farming to ensure sustainable growth, job creation, and economic revitalization. Dr. Forson, now a member of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) by law, emphasized the need for decisive action to address mismanagement and stabilize both production and financial aspects of the cocoa industry. The newly inaugurated COCOBOD board, chaired by Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, committed to resetting and repositioning the institution as a model organization. This strategy forms part of Ghana's broader economic model focusing on agriculture and agribusiness to stimulate local industry and attract investment.