President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious plan to breathe new life into Ghana’s cocoa sector by expanding the country’s cocoa farms by 200,000 hectares.
Speaking during his ongoing national “Thank You” tour in the Ahafo Region, Mr Mahama said the move is part of a broader strategy to restore Ghana’s position as a global cocoa powerhouse and to improve the livelihoods of thousands of local farmers.
“Plans are underway to revamp the collapsed cocoa sector,” he told supporters and farmers gathered in Goaso on Saturday. “Incentives will be provided to our hardworking farmers to increase cocoa production. We aim to add 200,000 hectares of cocoa to Ghana’s output to increase the income of our farmers.”
The announcement comes at a time when Ghana’s cocoa industry has been struggling with falling yields, smuggling, ageing farms, and poor farmgate prices and issues that have left many rural communities economically vulnerable.
Prez. Mahama said the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Randy Abbey, had assured him that a new cocoa producer price would be announced in August, hinting that it would be “a very good price” for farmers.
The president encouraged citizens without cocoa farms to begin planting, hinting at future opportunities in the sector. “So those of you who do not have cocoa farms, go and start looking for land and start planting cocoa,” he said.
Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, and the crop remains a vital source of foreign exchange and rural employment. However, years of underinvestment and structural challenges have taken a toll on production levels.
Many observers view Mahama’s pledge as a strategic step toward agricultural transformation, with potential to boost exports, generate jobs, and revitalise local economies.
While the announcement has sparked cautious optimism among farmers, some say they are waiting to see concrete action, especially in areas such as pricing transparency, fertiliser subsidies, and improved infrastructure.
The proposed expansion is expected to roll out in phases, in partnership with COCOBOD, local authorities, and private stakeholders. If successfully implemented, it could mark a significant turning point for Ghana’s cocoa industry and for the farmers who depend on it.
