The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has relaunched the Free Fertiliser Distribution Programme in Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western North Region.

The initiative is to deepen the government’s commitment to supporting cocoa farmers, improve farm productivity and enhance farmers’ livelihoods by easing the financial burden of purchasing fertiliser.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Randy Abbey, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, directed officials of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) to ensure farmers were duly registered.

He emphasised that by leveraging technology, favouritism would be eliminated, middlemen cut out, and fertilisers and other agro-inputs delivered directly to cocoa farmers.

Dr Abbey expressed worry about how the cocoa swollen shoot disease had negatively affected cocoa production in the Western North Region, reducing output from 340,000 metric tonnes annually to 140,000 metric tonnes.

He assured that the COCOBOD was aggressively galvanising massive capital injections from development banks and private sector partners to rehabilitate diseased farms to restore farmers’ livelihoods.

The COCOBOD CEO further announced that COCOBOD was working to start a tertiary scholarship scheme for children of cocoa farmers in the 2026/2027 academic year.

Dr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Board Chairman of COCOBOD, for his part, urged farmers to ensure the fertiliser was properly applied on their farms to improve soil fertility and increase cocoa yields.

He also cautioned against diversion of the fertiliser, saying enhanced tracking technology had been deployed to monitor its distribution from the warehouse to the farms to ensure the intended beneficiaries received the inputs.

Mr Wilbert Petty Brentum, the Western North Regional Minister, said the decision by COCOBOD to launch the programme in the region underscored government’s continuous commitment to revitalising the cocoa sector and improving productivity and livelihoods of farmers.

The Regional Minister lauded farmers for demonstrating resilience and determination to sustain the cocoa industry despite the negative impact of the swollen shoot disease.

Mr Brentum further called for the prioritisation of the rehabilitation programme in the region, saying that would provide the much-needed financial relief to farmers.

He commended the government and COCOBOD for the initiative.

Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, the Chief of Bonzain and Acting President of the Wiawso Traditional Council, who chaired the programme, said the dedication of Ghana’s cocoa farmers over the years had significantly helped to boost Ghana’s cocoa production.

He emphasised that the Free Fertiliser Distribution Programme would not only secure the future of Ghana’s cocoa sector but ultimately improve the livelihoods of farmers and their households.

Nana Ofori Ahenkan urged cocoa farmers to take full advantage of the programme, use it for the intended purpose, and adhere to recommendations on application to achieve the best results.

He, on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Western North Region, commended the government and COCOBOD for recognising the role of cocoa farmers by introducing the programme.

Some farmers, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, lauded the government and the COCOBOD for the initiative, saying it would help improve upon yields.

Others also welcomed the decision by COCOBOD to begin scholarships for their children in the next academic year, saying it would ease their financial burden.