Ato Forson Announces Plan to Acquire 200,000 Hectares for Cocoa Revitalization
Government Eyes Cocoa Revival Amid Plummeting Yields
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has unveiled a bold new initiative aimed at reviving Ghana’s cocoa sector by acquiring 200,000 hectares of land specifically for cocoa cultivation. The announcement was made during a stakeholder engagement on agricultural revitalization, where the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring cocoa production to the one million metric tonnes mark.
According to Dr. Forson, the large-scale land acquisition plan will support new plantations, especially in regions hit hardest by illegal mining (galamsey), climate change, and aging cocoa trees. The initiative is expected to be implemented in collaboration with traditional authorities, private investors, and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), leveraging both local knowledge and public-private partnerships.
Restoring Ghana’s Global Cocoa Leadership
Ghana, once the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has witnessed a steady decline in output due to environmental degradation, smuggling, and low farmer morale linked to pricing challenges. Cocoa production for the 2023/2024 season is projected to fall below 700,000 metric tonnes, the lowest in over a decade, according to data from COCOBOD and Reuters.
The Minister noted that the initiative will not only boost production levels but also create thousands of rural jobs and enhance foreign exchange earnings, a critical factor given the country’s ongoing economic recovery efforts. Dr. Forson emphasized that the government will also invest in irrigation, disease-resistant seedlings, and rural infrastructure to ensure long-term success.
Analysts have welcomed the proposal, though they caution that the success of the plan will depend heavily on transparency in land acquisition, consistency in implementation, and sustained support for farmers.
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