The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr. Randy Abbey, has paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace, in Kumasi.
The visit, last Friday, forms part of the CEO’s working tour of the cocoa growing areas in the Ashanti region.
Dr. Abbey used the occasion to brief Otumfuo on the current state of the Board and challenges of the cocoa industry in the country, as well as seek his blessings and good counsel as he assumes office, as the administrative head of the COCOBOD.
Among the COCOBOD delegation to the Manhyia Palace were; Dr. Francis Baah, deputy CEO, Richard Adu Acheampong, Executive Director of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) and Kwabena Owusu Ansah, the Deputy Executive Director of the Seed production Division (SPD).
Meanwhile, Dr. Randy Abbey has hinted, during his visit to the Ashanti region that the government, through the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s department, plans to introduce targeted legislation to protect cocoa trees from illegal mining activities and indiscriminate felling.
Dr. Abbey explained that existing laws lack the necessary bite to deter the destruction of cocoa farms, under the pretext of mineral exploration.
According to him, consultations are currently underway with the Attorney General’s Department for the drafting and necessary amendments of existing laws for parliamentary consideration, to address constant threats from illegal mining operations and chainsaw activities.
He said the “Existing laws are not stringent enough. The cocoa tree is not protected and that is why people can indiscriminately fell cocoa trees under the pretext of mining, whether it is prospecting or actual mining, they were just destroying cocoa trees.
The COCOBOD CEO pledged to enforce financial discipline to sanitise the sector and appealed to farmers and stakeholders for their cooperation to help strengthen and grow the cocoa industry.
While some miners have forcibly taken over cocoa farms, others have been acquired with the consent of farmers, who have sold off their lands.
The situation, according to COCOBOD, continues to impact Ghana’s cocoa sector, hence the intensified efforts to introduce and enforce regulations that will protect cocoa trees.
