In a concerted effort to strengthen Ghana’s cocoa industry, four Members of Parliament (MPs) representing cocoa-farming communities from the Volta and Oti Regions have engaged local cocoa farmers and partners at Afarinick Sustainable Cocoa Farms in Kpando.
The MPs—covering constituencies from Kpando-Sebastian Deh, Hohoe- Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, Guan- Fred Kwesi Agbenyo, and Biakoye- Jean-Marie Formadi —emphasized the vital role cocoa plays as the livelihood of their people.
From Hohoe to Biakoye, Guan, Afadjato to Kpando, farmers work tirelessly, yet they are calling for more benefits from their hard work, the MPs asertrd.
MP for Kpando, Sebastian Deh leading the team, highlighted the importance of value addition, stating, “Cocoa is not just a crop; it’s our people’s livelihood. Our message is clear: value addition must happen here in Ghana, not abroad. ‘Made in Volta/Oti’ chocolates should be on shelves, showcasing our local talent and resources.”
He further stressed the need to inspire the youth to see farming as a viable business. “No more talk of ‘farming is for the old’.
The government, COCOBOD, and the private sector must work together to protect our farms from galamsey activities and diseases so we can hit the target of 1 million metric tons again,” he said.
The MPs, representing the cocoa belt of Volta and Oti, collectively expressed their readiness to lead Ghana’s cocoa revival.
They acknowledged the crucial partnership with Afarinick, which is actively supporting farmers through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, including the distribution of thousands of free cocoa seedlings to boost production.
This engagement marks a renewed commitment to transforming Ghana’s cocoa sector into a more profitable and sustainable industry, benefitting local farmers and the nation at large.
