Cocoa Farmers Raise Concerns Over New Law Protecting Cocoa Lands
Ghana’s cocoa farmers have expressed concerns over a newly passed law aimed at protecting cocoa-growing areas from being converted for other purposes.
The Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, which was approved by Parliament in July, places restrictions on the conversion of cocoa farms into land for mining or other agricultural activities without approval from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The legislation is intended to protect Ghana’s cocoa sector as the country continues to face challenges linked to declining cocoa production and the conversion of cocoa-growing areas for mining and other activities.
However, while the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association agrees with the need to safeguard cocoa farms, it wants some sections of the law reviewed.
The association is particularly concerned about how farmers will deal with old, unproductive or diseased cocoa farms that may need to be replaced with other crops.
COCOBOD, on the other hand, has defended the legislation and rejected suggestions that the concerns surrounding it should be treated as a purely agricultural matter.
President John Dramani Mahama has not yet signed the bill into law, with no official indication yet on when he is expected to take action.
The development has therefore sparked a wider discussion about how Ghana can protect its cocoa industry while also ensuring that farmers have enough flexibility to manage their farms effectively.
