By: Apiah-Kubi | ignewss-BIA WEST, Ghana
The Bia West Constituency Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Isaiah Kwarteng, has defended the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, saying the legislation is intended to protect cocoa farmers, safeguard cocoa farms and strengthen financial discipline within the cocoa sector.
Mr Kwarteng, who also serves as the Western North Regional Manager of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), said some concerns raised about the legislation, particularly provisions relating to cocoa farms and farming practices, were based on what he described as a misunderstanding of the bill.
He explained that existing legal provisions already provide safeguards against the indiscriminate conversion of cocoa farms to other uses.
Under the new legislation, he said, farmers would be required to obtain approval from COCOBOD before undertaking major changes to their cocoa farms, except in cases involving rehabilitation programmes sanctioned by the Board.
“To protect the status of cocoa farms, the new law states that no one, including farmers, can convert cocoa farms to other uses without COCOBOD approval, except for board-sanctioned rehabilitation,” Mr. Kwarteng said.
He explained that cocoa farms have been accorded protected status under the legislation and that authorization would be required before cocoa trees could be destroyed, uprooted or felled.
According to Mr. Kwarteng, the provisions are aimed at preserving Ghana’s cocoa production base while creating mechanisms to improve the economic welfare of farmers.
“The new Bill seeks to empower cocoa farmers and improve their economic gains,” he stated.
He said the legislation introduces measures including a cocoa pension scheme, a cocoa education trust fund and a cocoa debt sinking fund, which he argued would provide additional support and long-term benefits to cocoa-growing communities and farmers.
Mr. Kwarteng also assured cocoa farmers of the 70 per cent Free-On-Board (FOB) price guarantee, which he said would ensure that farmers receive not less than 70 per cent of the gross FOB export price of cocoa.
He maintained that the legislation would provide greater protection for cocoa farmers, safeguard cocoa production and promote stronger financial management within the sector.
Mr. Kwarteng described the bill as a significant reform intended to improve the financial sustainability of cocoa farming while strengthening measures aimed at protecting the welfare of farmers.
Source: www.ignewss.com