COCOBOD unable to fulfill international cocoa commitments - Ato Forson

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has raised serious concerns about COCOBOD's ability to fulfill its international obligations.

According to Dr. Forson, the organisation is currently struggling to produce enough cocoa to meet its contractual commitments with global partners, a situation he attributes to mismanagement and poor decision-making by the current leadership.

In a post shared on Thursday, August 22, Dr. Forson explained that COCOBOD's challenges in meeting production targets could have severe implications for Ghana's reputation on the international market.

"COCOBOD was chased away from the market due to the fact that COCOBOD is no longer creditworthy, lacks credibility, and is unable to produce enough cocoa to meet their contractual obligations," he posted.

He also mentioned that COCOBOD cannot access the international market because it is unable to produce the quality of cocoa needed.

Dr. Ato Forson added that this inability to supply the agreed-upon quantities of cocoa could lead to penalties, loss of trust from international buyers, and a decline in Ghana's standing as a leading cocoa exporter.

He described the situation as a far cry from COCODBOD's previous successes under past administrations.

Dr. Forson however urged the government to take immediate action to prevent further damage to Ghana's cocoa industry.

He emphasised the need for transparent and effective leadership at COCOBOD to ensure that the organisation can regain its footing and continue to play its critical role in the country’s economy.

Without swift intervention, the Minority Leader warned that the long-term consequences could be detrimental to both the industry and the nation as a whole.

MA/AE