By Daily Democrat News Desk
At a time when Ghana’s cocoa sector is emerging from one of its most turbulent chapters, a new battle line has been drawn, not against falling yields or climate shocks, but against what party insiders describe as a calculated attempt by critics to “throw dust on the field” and undermine a fragile but undeniable recovery.
“The cocoa sector is improving drastically. We will not allow anyone to distort the facts,” a senior party operative declared. “Comrades, let us protect our own.”
At the centre of this recovery drive stands Dr. Randy Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), whose quiet but firm stewardship under the NDC government is winning plaudits from within the industry, even as political noise grows louder.
MANAGING CRISIS AS NORMAL BUSINESS
To manage COCOBOD today “as though nothing had happened,” observers insist, requires an exceptional level of competence and tact. Saddled with a huge inherited debt, weak financing structures, and eroded confidence, COCOBOD could easily have collapsed under its own weight.
Instead, under Dr. Abbey, the institution has remained functional, stable, and reform-oriented.
Despite the crushing debt burden, there has been no salary cut and no retrenchment of workers, a decision that preserved livelihoods and prevented institutional paralysis at a time when many expected sweeping job losses.
Even more remarkable was the decision to pay GH¢2 billion in cocoa bills that were not budgeted for in the 2024/25 season but nonetheless had to be settled to restore trust and prevent supply chain breakdowns.
“These are not the decisions of a reckless manager,” a cocoa industry analyst noted. “They are the decisions of someone who understands what is at stake.”
PROTECTING FARMERS, STABILISING PRICES
For over five months, Government through COCOBOD subsidised cocoa prices when the Ghana cedi gained strength, shielding farmers from market shocks and ensuring income stability.
That intervention was followed by an increment in the cocoa producer price for the 2025/26 season, reaffirming the NDC government’s long-standing commitment to putting farmers first.
In addition, farmers are benefiting from free fertiliser distribution, free spraying machines, and the announcement of a scholarship scheme for children of cocoa farmers, which is expected to be rolled out soon.
Operational efficiency is been boosted through the purchase of new operational vehicles and logistics, strengthening monitoring, extension services, and field operations across cocoa-growing regions.
LEADING BY SACRIFICE
Perhaps the most striking symbol of Dr. Abbey’s leadership is personal sacrifice. For over a year, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD has operated without an official vehicle, relying on his private car to perform official duties.
As part of stringent cost-saving measures, he has suspended foreign travels deemed unnecessary to COCOBOD’s survival, trimming expenses down to the bare essentials. He has reduced the unit cost of agrochemicals and fertilizers by 20% while expanding access to all farmers across the country.
“This is not cosmetic austerity,” a senior COCOBOD official said. “This is leadership by example.”
Dr. Abbey, insiders stress, is committed to leaving COCOBOD better than he inherited it.
FARMERS RAISE ALARM -GOVERNMENT LISTENS
Yet, even amid these gains, tensions have surfaced on the ground. Cocoa farmers across the country have raised concerns that licensed buying companies (LBCs) are telling them there is “no money” to purchase their cocoa.
The development has left many farmers stranded, frustrated, and economically exposed, with cocoa as their sole source of income.
Raising the alarm, they appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene urgently.
“The farmers are crying,” saying. “They have worked tirelessly, yet they cannot sell their produce because buyers claim government has no funds. Mr. President, please come in before this worsens.”
They warned that failure to act swiftly could deepen poverty in cocoa-growing communities and undermine confidence in Ghana’s most strategic export sector.
COCOBOD SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
In response, Dr. Randy Abbey moved quickly to clear what he described as a dangerous misconception.
He explained that COCOBOD does not finance the purchase of cocoa beans. Rather, purchasing is funded by off-takers, international buyers.
According to him, the current challenge is rooted in global market dynamics. While the world market price of cocoa stands at about US$4,100 per tonne, Ghana’s cocoa is sold at approximately US$6,300, with farmers enjoying an impressive US$5,040 share.
This premium pricing, though beneficial to farmers, has led some international buyers to shift temporarily to cheaper markets.
“The last time Ghana, through COCOBOD, financed cocoa purchases was in the 2023/24 season,” Dr. Abbey clarified.
Looking ahead, he disclosed that the NDC government is developing a new, sustainable financing model for the 2026/27 season and beyond, aimed at stabilising purchases, protecting farmers, and insulating the sector from future shocks.
Until then, he noted, buyers are likely to return only if global cocoa prices rise sharply or pricing structures are adjusted.
A SECTOR ON THE REBOUND
Despite the noise, the facts remain stubborn. Cocoa prices have improved. Farmer support has expanded. Institutional waste is being cut. And reforms are underway.
For the NDC government and Dr. Randy Abbey, the message is unambiguous: the cocoa sector is on a recovery path, sacrifices are being made at the top, and Ghana’s most prized crop will not be sacrificed on the altar of misinformation.
As party insiders warn, the field is clearing, and no one will be allowed to throw dust on it.
