The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is a Ghanaian government-controlled institution[1] that fixes the buying price for cocoa in Ghana. Farmers are protected from the volatile prices on the world market through the price-fixing.[2] Besides, the higher quality hybrid seeds are sold by the organization and some research on cocoa plant-related diseases are also carried out.[3]
Between 1947 and 1979, the institution was known as the Cocoa Marketing Board. 60% of Ghana’s cocoa beans are sent to the UK.[4] The Board is however, a government organisation whose sole responsibility is to support production, marketing and processing of cocoa in the county.[5]
History
Background
In 1937, farmers in Gold Coast, a colony of the British Empire equal to contemporary Ghana, refused to continue selling cocoa at the low prices set by European merchants and decided to withhold cocoa from the market. The strike went on for 8 months, until the British government acted by setting up the Nowell Commission of Enquiry to investigate the issue.[6][7] The Nowell Commission report advised the government to assist cocoa farmers by establishing a Marketing Board.
Their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives focus on promoting responsible actions and fostering a positive influence in activities related to farmers, the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders, and all individuals within the public sphere who can be regarded as stakeholders.[8]
West African Produce Control Board (1940-1946)
In 1940, the government established the West African Produce Control Board to purchase cocoa under guaranteed prices from all West African countries. It operated throughout World War II and was dissolved in 1946.
Cocoa Marketing Board (1947-1979)
The first attempt to regulate market value and production was in 1947 through the Ghana Marketing Board, which dissolved in 1979 and was reconciled into Ghana Cocoa Board also called COCOBOD[9]. The Ghana Marketing Board was established by ordinance in 1947 with the sum of 27 million Ghanaian Cedi as its initial working capital. In 1979, this Board was dissolved and reconstituted as the Ghana Cocoa Board.
Ghana Cocoa Board (1979-)
In 1984 COCOBOD underwent institutional reform aimed at subjecting the cocoa sector to market forces. COCOBOD's role was reduced, and 40 percent of its staff, or at least 35,000 employees, were dismissed. Furthermore, the government shifted responsibility for crop transport to the private sector. Subsidies for production inputs (fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and equipment) were removed, and there was a measure of privatization of the processing sector through at least one joint venture. In addition, a new payment system known as the Akuafo Check System was introduced in 1982 at the point of purchase of dried beans.
Ghana's Government implemented a very strategic plan in 1984 putting the sale of agriculture particularly Cocoa in the hands of the Government. With the regulation of pricing and manufacturing controlled by the government over 30,000+ jobs were lost but Ghana still holds its spot as one of three highest yielding countries of Cocoa.[9]
Jointly with Côte d'Ivoire's Coffee and Cocoa Council (both countries were enemies for years), agreed and announced, on 11 June 2019, a minimal price for cocoa, in order to protect producers.[10]
In 2018, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire set up a cartel called Cocoa Initiative, often described as OPEC for cocoa and thus dubbed "COPEC".[11]
In 2023, a significant milestone was reached in cocoa processing in Ghana with the establishment of a second fruit processing facility by the Ghanaian-Swiss start-up, Koa, in Akim Achiase. This expansion marks a significant step forward in Koa's commitment to promoting sustainability in the country.[12]
Heads of COCOBOD
A.C. Mills - General Manager - 1 October 1947 - December 1948
A.E. Hampson - General Manager- 1 October 1949 - 25 May 1955
J.A.E. Morley - Managing Director - 6 March 1953 - March 1956
Harry Dodoo (first Ghanaian) - General Manager - 25 March 1955 - 28 February 1965
Harry Dodoo - Managing Director - 1 May 1965 - 22 February 1967
Frederick Robert Kankam-Boadu - Acting Managing Director - 23 February 1967 - 14 May 1968
Frederick Robert Kankam-Boadu - Managing Director - 14 May 1968 - 1 October 1968
Uriah Kwesi Hackman - Managing Director - 1 November 1968 - 9 October 1969
J.G. Amoafo - Managing Director - 21 May 1970 - 27 January 1972
Uriah Kwesi Hackman - Executive Chairman- 28 January 1972 - 31 August 1973
Lt. Col. Kwaku A. Takyi - Executive Chairman- 20 December 1973 - 19 February 1975
Cdr. J.C. Addo - Managing Director- 20 February 1975 - 31 July 1978
In September 2019, COCOBOD was given a directive by the government of Ghana to buy fertilisers from local manufacturers from 2020. Due to the government's One-district One-factory venture, the local fertiliser production firms had the requisite capacity the demand of the country.[17]
^Parellada, G. (5 July 2019). La guerra de los gigantes del chocolate. El País, sección Economía y Trabajo, p. 35. (Retrieved 5 July 2019) (in Spanish)
^"COCOBOD Gets New CEO". Daily Guide. Daily Guide. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2018.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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