Dr Isaac Yaw Ofori Opoku, the Member of Parliament for Offinso South and Ranking Member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, has called on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to fulfil its mandate by giving equal attention to coffee and shea nuts.
The lawmaker observed that, historically, officials have prioritised cocoa at the expense of other vital sectors, despite coffee and shea nuts falling squarely under the jurisdiction of COCOBOD.
The Board’s primary objectives include managing the production, quality control and sale of Ghana’s cocoa, coffee and shea nut industries. COCOBOD is also tasked with implementing pest and disease control programmes and funding scientific research aimed at improving crop quality.
These efforts are designed to increase national profitability by promoting the processing of raw materials and cocoa waste into value-added products for both local and international markets.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Dr Opoku expressed concern that there remains significant room for improvement in the management of coffee and shea.
He recommended that officials introduce robust measures to regulate internal trade and oversee the official grading, sealing and certification of these crops, similar to the stringent systems currently in place for cocoa.
“We have to dedicate enough resources and time to the management of coffee and shea nuts. Shea, in particular, has great value. COCOBOD has a sub-station at Bole where research is conducted into coffee and shea nuts, but more needs to be done. We must channel more resources to the northern sector and place value on shea because, if we do so, we will secure better prices. We should also not ignore coffee,” he told host Kwabena Agyapong.
The MP further recalled that a former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni, had previously made efforts to enhance coffee production, with an ambitious target of achieving 100,000 metric tonnes.
Dr Opoku stressed that cocoa must not remain the sole focus of agricultural investment and institutional attention if Ghana is to fully maximise its economic potential.
