PIAA Begins Nationwide Tour to Boost Cocoa Sector

The Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) has commenced a nationwide tour of cocoa-growing communities as part of renewed efforts to revitalise and transform Ghana’s cocoa sector.

The tour, led by Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, Presidential Coordinator of the PIAA, is aimed at engaging directly with cocoa farmers, cooperatives, extension officers and other key stakeholders to assess challenges confronting the sector and explore practical solutions to enhance productivity and value addition.

Dr Otokunor said the initiative formed part of the Government’s broader agenda to reposition agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and export expansion.

He noted that cocoa remained a strategic commodity in Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings and rural livelihoods, and therefore required sustained policy attention and innovative interventions.

“The Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness is committed to working closely with farmers and relevant institutions to modernise cocoa production, improve yields, promote agro-processing and ensure that farmers derive maximum benefit from their labour,” he said.

The nationwide tour will cover major cocoa-producing regions, including the Ashanti, Western North, Western, Eastern, Bono, Ahafo and Volta Regions.

During the visits, the PIAA team is expected to interact with farmer groups, inspect farms, assess the state of plantations, and evaluate ongoing government interventions within the cocoa value chain.

The engagements will also focus on issues such as access to improved seedlings, fertiliser supply, pest and disease control, farm rehabilitation, irrigation, mechanisation and access to credit.

Dr Otokunor emphasised the need to strengthen collaboration between the PIAA and key institutions such as the Ghana Cocoa Board to ensure policy coherence and effective implementation of programmes aimed at increasing output and enhancing quality standards.

He reiterated Government’s commitment to promoting local value addition through increased investment in cocoa processing, chocolate production and other downstream activities to maximise returns from the crop.

Some cocoa farmers who interacted with the team welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would help address longstanding challenges in the sector.

They called for sustained engagement and prompt implementation of recommendations that would emerge from the tour to guarantee tangible improvements in their livelihoods.

The PIAA is expected to compile findings from the nationwide tour into a comprehensive report to inform policy direction and strategic interventions for the transformation of Ghana’s cocoa industry.