The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Abbey, has concluded a series of stakeholder engagements on the newly passed Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, aimed at explaining the objectives and key provisions of the legislation.
The engagements were held in separate sessions with COCOBOD staff, local cocoa processors and members of the media as part of efforts to deepen understanding of the new legal framework governing the cocoa sector.
Speaking during the engagements, Dr. Abbey explained that the Bill amends the 1984 Cocoa Act (P.N.D.C.L. 81) and is built around three key pillars: establishing a new funding model for COCOBOD, introducing a new cocoa pricing mechanism and promoting local value addition within Ghana’s cocoa industry.
According to him, the reforms are intended to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of the country’s cocoa sector while positioning it to respond to emerging industry challenges.
Dr. Abbey also highlighted several provisions in the legislation aimed at protecting cocoa farms, improving farmer welfare and increasing local content participation in the cocoa value chain.
He said these measures are critical to safeguarding the long-term future of Ghana’s cocoa industry and ensuring that more value is retained within the country.
The COCOBOD Chief Executive further addressed what he described as misconceptions surrounding the new law and urged stakeholders to study the final version of the Bill once it is officially published to gain a clearer understanding of its provisions.
He described the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, as a significant milestone in government’s efforts to reform the cocoa sector, expressing confidence that the legislation will help modernise COCOBOD, enhance efficiency and drive greater investment in value addition and sustainable cocoa production.
