The Ghana Cocoa Board, in collaboration with the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and other stakeholders, has launched the Ghana Cocoa Monitor.

The monitor will check duplication of sustainability programmes, ensure transparency, and build trust among government, civil society, the private sector, and farmers.

It will also support efforts at tackling challenges such as child labour, deforestation, and climate change in the cocoa sector.

This platform will promote a more collaborative approach to tackling challenges facing the cocoa sector and provide real-time insights for informed decision-making on cocoa sustainability.

Recently, Barry Callebaut Chief Executive Officer Mr. Peter Feld reaffirmed his company’s longstanding collaboration with COCOBOD and emphasised the importance of strengthening ties in a bid to sustain the cocoa industry.

He also highlighted key concerns, including price stability, continuous business development, and the crucial need for consistent cocoa and chocolate exports to support the global supply chain.

He called for renewed support for smallholder farmers, whom he described as “the backbone of the industry”, and advocated for deeper partnerships that will empower farmers and sustain cocoa production in the face of rising threats.

Mr. Feld further raised concerns over the growing menace of illegal mining, which continues to encroach on cocoa farmlands and urged both institutions to critically address the issue, warning that it poses a significant risk to the future of cocoa cultivation and livelihoods

“There must be a strong partnership between Barry Callebaut and COCOBOD to ensure the sustainability of the industry. The need to protect cocoa farms from destructive mining activities cannot be overemphasised,” he stated.

In response, COCOBOD’s Chief Executive, Dr. Randy Abbey, assured the Barry Callebaut delegation of the board’s unwavering commitment to partnership and transparency.

“There is nothing to be sceptical about. Our interest is the same, the sustainability of the cocoa industry,” he said.

Dr. Abbey emphasised the need for crop financing to continue, as long as it aligns with Ghanaian laws and does not undermine national interests. He added that COCOBOD remains committed to building appropriate systems and mechanisms that ensure mutual growth for all stakeholders within the cocoa value chain.

The Acting Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr. Ato Boateng, touched on the issue of illegal mining and gave firm assurance that COCOBOD will confront the challenge head-on by introducing punitive measures against farmers and landowners who allow cocoa farms to be converted into mining fields.

“This cannot continue. We are taking a firm stand. Sanity must prevail in the industry,” he stressed. He revealed that enforcement mechanisms are being developed in collaboration with other government agencies to protect cocoa-growing areas from further degradation.

He also reiterated management’s support for deepening collaboration with international partners to safeguard the future of cocoa farming in Ghana.

The meeting with Barry Callebaut, one of the world’s leading maker of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, marks an important step in enhancing public-private sector cooperation in the cocoa sector, with both institutions pledging to champion sustainable cocoa production.