The Chamber of Cocoa Marketers has called on President John Dramani Mahama to sign the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill into law without further delay, warning that urgent action is needed to address longstanding challenges in the cocoa sector.
Acting President of the Chamber, Samuel Adimado, said the passage of the legislation offers an important opportunity to introduce fresh approaches to strengthening Ghana’s cocoa industry and improving the environment for businesses operating across the value chain.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of the Chamber of Cocoa Marketers, Mr Adimado stressed that delays in assenting to the Bill could undermine efforts to reform and reposition the sector.
“With the briefing that we have been given, time is of the essence. This is not politics. Time is of essence,” he said.
He urged President Mahama to act promptly, drawing on his experience in agriculture.
“As an agriculturist, I wouldn’t recommend the President to wait in signing it. As an agriculturist, I know what it is,” he added.
The Chamber of Cocoa Marketers brings together key players in the cocoa value chain, including Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), processors, banks, insurance companies, transporters and other industry stakeholders.
The organisation is expected to serve as a platform through which businesses and other stakeholders can engage the government, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and relevant institutions on policies and challenges affecting the cocoa industry.
Adimado welcomed provisions in the Bill aimed at protecting established cocoa farms, noting that substantial public and private resources are invested in developing cocoa planting materials.
He particularly highlighted the work of the Cocoa Research Institute, which develops cocoa seedlings and distributes them to farmers without charging for the planting materials.
“Those of you who visit the Cocoa Research Institute and you understand what they do there, you agree with me that it is a heavy investment. A heavy investment which is termed as a public good. Public good in the sense that the cocoa seedlings are released to farmers; they are not sold, but there is a heavy cost in breeding this planting material. Therefore, it is important that we protect it,” he said.
According to him, the protection of cocoa farms should also extend to cases where established farms are earmarked for destruction. He argued that such action should only be taken with the necessary authorisation and, where applicable, adequate compensation.
Beyond the passage of the Bill, the Chamber is advocating for broader stakeholder participation in developing the principles and guidelines that will govern implementation of the new legislation.
Adimado also called for targeted incentives for businesses engaged in cocoa value addition, arguing that such enterprises face considerable operational and financial pressures.
“It’s a business, and therefore, there should be incentives to ensure that if you are into value addition in Ghana, then you should survive as a business,” he mentioned.
He said the Chamber would pursue a constructive and collaborative relationship with government and other stakeholders rather than adopt a confrontational approach.
Adimado maintained that the Chamber’s priority is to help create the right conditions for businesses within the cocoa sector to expand, remain competitive and contribute more effectively to the industry.
“We should listen to all opinions so that it can be incorporated into the guiding principles. As a chamber, we are not going to be confrontational. We are businesses, and for businesses, we want to behave in the corridors that will ensure that we get the enabling environment that will enable us to grow and thrive as businesses,” Adimado remarked.
COCOBOD bill
The Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026 seeks to consolidate the existing laws governing the cocoa sector into a single legal framework aimed at strengthening regulation and improving the administration of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
The proposed legislation will repeal and replace the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984 (PNDCL 81), which has governed the sector for more than four decades.
Beyond producer pricing, the Bill proposes a new financing framework for cocoa purchases and related operations. According to the government, the reforms are intended to restore the long-term financial sustainability and operational efficiency of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The legislation will also promote domestic value addition by requiring that at least 50% of Ghana’s cocoa production be processed locally, with the aim of expanding the country’s cocoa-processing capacity and retaining more value within the domestic economy.
