Dr. Abbey gave the assurance when the 2025 National Award-winning Cocoa and Coffee Farmers, together with executives of the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE), paid a courtesy call on him to express appreciation for the Board’s recognition and continued support. The meeting formed part of a series of engagements between COCOBOD and COCOSHE throughout 2025 to address pressing challenges in the cocoa sector, review government policies, and explore measures to improve farmer welfare. 

Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration and sustaining Ghana’s reputation as a producer of premium-quality cocoa. Speaking during the meeting, the 2025 National Best Cocoa Farmer, Mr. Edward Kwame Yeboah, appealed to Ghanaian youth to embrace cocoa farming as a viable and rewarding livelihood. “Cocoa farming has taken care of my family and given me national recognition. I urge the youth to quit galamsey and embrace cocoa farming, which offers sustainable income and preserves our land for future generations,” he said. Farmers raised concerns about rising input costs, infrastructure deficits, and appealed for continued support from COCOBOD. 

Dr. Abbey acknowledged these challenges and explained that the suspension of cocoa road projects was necessary to address the Board’s growing debt burden, which has reached an estimated GH¢33 billion due to unfunded contracts awarded between 2018 and 2020. “Cocoa revenues would have been better deployed to directly improve infrastructure in cocoa-growing communities, rather than creating unsustainable liabilities,” he noted. 

The discussions also touched on key government initiatives, including transfer of cocoa road projects to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, and tertiary education scholarship scheme for farmers’ children. Dr. Abbey reaffirmed optimism for the sector’s future, pledging sustained engagement with stakeholders and the introduction of improved policies to enhance productivity and farmer support.