COCOBOD tasked to take lead in certifying cocoa

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been challenged to position itself in a lead role in the production of certified and traceable cocoa.

As the global chocolate and cocoa industry rapidly moves towards certified and sustainable cocoa marketing, Ghanaian licensed buying companies are increasingly falling in line.

However most of the certification programmes are driven by international Fair trade organizations like UTZ and Rainforest Alliance.

Cocoa Merchants Limited, for instance, is hoping to produce certified cocoa from November this year.

Managing Director, Nana Amo Adade Boamah, believes the interest of the local cocoa industry would be better served when the COCOBOD begins to establish Ghanaian standards in the cocoa trade.

“We should begin to have Ghana standards where all the people who buy Ghana cocoa would know and submit themselves to it… otherwise the industry will be driven by external factors and forces to the detriment of us”, suggested Nana Boamah.

Cocoa certification and traceability require that farmers’ social, environmental and economic activities are in line with legitimate and best labour practices, in exchange for a premium price on the produce.

Nana Boamah says making governance as part of routine activities on cocoa farms will help improve performance and expenditure of farmers.

“One of the tenets of this sustainable production is to empower the farmer in best agronomic practices, teaches them to avoid child labour and how to protect the environment”, he said.

He also says fertilizer importing companies must be mandated to build warehouses at regional depots in order to get farm inputs close to cocoa producing districts.

Cocoa Merchants Company achieved almost five percent market share in cocoa purchase in the last crop season.

The company has rewarded best performing farmers at a ceremony in Kumasi. Close to 100 cocoa farmers received tricycles, bicycles, LED television sets, refrigerators and computers.