The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has officially launched the Ghana Cocoa Monitor, a pioneering platform designed to foster inclusive dialogue, streamline sustainability initiatives, and inject greater coherence and transparency into the nation’s vital cocoa sector.
Unveiled in Accra last Monday by EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, the Ghana Cocoa Monitor represents a significant paradigm shift. “The facility marks a turning point and a shift from working in silos to building partnerships, from isolated impact to collective progress, from fragmented efforts to structured collaboration,” stated Ambassador Razaaly.
The platform is envisioned as a unified nexus for a broad spectrum of public institutions, including various COCOBOD divisions, the Cote d’Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Education.
Beyond governmental bodies, the Cocoa Monitor will also serve as a crucial interface for private sector entities, encompassing input dealers, licensed buying companies, off-takers, processors, chocolate makers, certification bodies, and haulers. This comprehensive integration aims to enhance the entire cocoa value chain in Ghana.
Ambassador Razaaly underscored the platform’s potential to facilitate the efficient pooling and sharing of resources, thereby enabling a more effective response to systemic challenges through dedicated thematic working groups. He further highlighted that the initiative would significantly reduce duplication of efforts, boost overall efficiency, and, crucially, re-centre farmers and sustainability at the core of the sector’s strategic agenda.
“We commend COCOBOD for its leadership in bringing this platform to life. We also thank our partners at the FAO for their exemplary groundwork,” Ambassador Razaaly remarked, acknowledging the successful validation workshop held on June 19, 2025, which solidified the platform’s structure and identified key thematic areas.
The EU reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to bolstering Ghana’s cocoa sector through various initiatives, including advancements in traceability, the development of national and regional standards (ARS 1000), and leveraging opportunities presented by emerging EU legislation such as the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
Dr. Isaac Manu, Head of Research and Development at the Ghana Cocoa Board, hailed the platform as a significant novelty. He acknowledged the pressing challenges confronting the industry, including child labour, deforestation, low farmer incomes, and climate change – all critical to the long-term sustainability of the cocoa sector. “These are issues that cannot be solved by the cocoa board alone. It requires our collective effort,” Dr. Manu emphasized.
Priya Gujadhur, the FAO Representative, expressed the organization’s satisfaction in supporting the design and launch of a platform designed to capture the diverse voices of all stakeholders, aligning with international best practices. “But more importantly, we are proud that it is locally owned and supported by a strong network of partners committed to Ghana’s cocoa future,” she concluded.
