Energy Minister John Jinapor has sworn into office new governing board for the Ghana CocoaBod.
The Finance minister who is also a member of the board Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson pledged the government’s full support for the revitalization of Ghana’s cocoa sector, describing the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) as a “cornerstone of Ghana’s economic recovery and growth agenda.”
In a Facebook post following his inauguration as a member of the newly constituted COCOBOD Board of Directors, Dr. Forson reaffirmed his commitment to restoring the cocoa industry, which he described as the “backbone of our economy” and a lifeline for millions of Ghanaian farmers.
“I want to extend my warmest congratulations to my fellow board members, led by our Chairman, Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo,” Dr. Forson wrote. “I am confident that with the calibre of men and women on this board, we are poised to take bold and decisive steps to revive the fortunes of Ghana’s cocoa sector.”
Chairman of the Board, Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, set the tone for the new board’s direction with a clear vision to transform the institution. “We will reset, retool, and reposition COCOBOD as a model institution,” he declared during the inauguration ceremony.
To complement these efforts, Dr. Forson revealed that the government will acquire approximately 200 hectares of land to establish new cocoa plantations. The initiative is designed to support smallholder farmers and push production back to the 1 million metric tonne target, a benchmark Ghana has struggled to maintain in recent years due to numerous challenges facing the sector.
“Cocoa has always been a proud symbol of Ghana’s heritage,” the Minister stated, “but COCOBOD has faced daunting challenges in recent years. However, I believe this is a challenge we are more than capable of overcoming.”
Dr. Forson assured the new board and stakeholders across the cocoa value chain of the Ministry of Finance’s unwavering support, adding, “The road ahead will be tough — but together, we will rebuild and reclaim cocoa’s rightful place as the jewel of our economy.”
Composition of the New COCOBOD Board :
Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo – Chairman, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson – Minister for Finance, Dr. Johnson Asiama – Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Randy Abbey – Chief Executive Officer, COCOBOD, Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah – Member, Vincent Oppong Asamoah – Member, Samson Ahi – Deputy Minister for Trade, John Dumelo – Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari – Member, Nana Charles Owusu – Member and Eric Turkson – Member.
The new board is expected to steer COCOBOD through a critical period of restructuring and innovation aimed at safeguarding one of Ghana’s most important export commodities.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
