, Dr. Randy Abbey. The country had set an ambitious target of 610,000 metric tonnes for the season, but current figures suggest that goal is now out of reach.){kind=link}
Ghana is poised to miss its cocoa production target for the 2024/2025 crop season, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey. The country had set an ambitious target of 610,000 metric tonnes for the season, but current figures suggest that goal is now out of reach.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Dr. Abbey disclosed that cocoa production currently stands at 590,000 metric tonnes, with only a few months remaining in the crop season.
“I don’t think that much will change, looking at the time we have to end the crop season,” he admitted. “We could do about 600,000 metric tonnes at most, looking at the fact that we’re now doing the light crop season and we don’t see things turning around that much.”
The shortfall comes amid persistent challenges in the cocoa sector, including aging farms, climate change impacts, smuggling, and galamsey (illegal mining) activities that continue to disrupt cocoa-growing areas. Despite these issues, Dr. Abbey expressed cautious optimism for the future, particularly the 2025/2026 crop season.
He revealed that COCOBOD is rolling out new measures aimed at boosting yields and supporting farmers to increase production. “We will also look at some innovative measures to encourage the farmers to improve their yields,” he said, suggesting that support schemes and technological interventions are being considered.
The government is also reported to be working in tandem with COCOBOD to implement additional programmes that will positively impact cocoa output in the next season.
Dr. Abbey also used the platform to shed light on the dire financial position of COCOBOD, revealing that the institution is currently burdened with debts totaling approximately GHS 33 billion. He, however, expressed confidence that a financial turnaround is possible within the next four years.
“We are hoping that in four years, the books will be looking good, in terms of returning COCOBOD to some good profits,” he stated.
To achieve this, the Board is embarking on a series of cost-cutting measures and structural reforms aimed at improving financial sustainability. These include streamlining operations, tightening procurement processes, and reducing waste across the cocoa value chain.
Cocoa remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s export economy, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings and livelihoods across the country. A shortfall in production not only affects national revenue but also puts additional pressure on the cedi and limits fiscal space for key government programmes.
While 2024/2025 may end below expectations, sector watchers and government stakeholders will be looking to the 2025/2026 season for signs of a rebound, especially if the newly announced interventions yield results.