The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Abbey, has stated that road construction is not part of the Board’s core responsibilities, stressing that the focus should remain on sustaining cocoa production and supporting farmers.
Speaking during a duty tour at Assin Dawomako in the Central Region, Dr. Abbey emphasized that road infrastructure falls under the Ministry of Roads and Highways, not COCOBOD.
He criticized the Board’s historical involvement in road construction, saying it has diverted critical resources away from its core functions.
“Our core mandate is to fund cocoa purchases, supply inputs, enhance production, maintain quality, and sustain the cocoa industry. Road construction has contributed significantly to our financial challenges,” Dr. Abbey said.
He revealed that contracts under the second phase of the Cocoa Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP II), awarded during the previous administration and denominated in U.S. dollars, have resulted in a GH¢21 billion debt.
This, he noted, has placed a heavy burden on COCOBOD, which is now undergoing financial restructuring.
Dr. Abbey also assured farmers that measures are being implemented to combat illegal mining on cocoa farmlands, which continues to threaten the industry’s future.
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