Cocobod signs MOU with Solidaridad to boost cocoa industry

Accra, Sept. 18 GNA – The Ghana Cocoa Board
(COCOBOD) and Solidaridad West Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
to implement initiatives and offer technical support aimed at enhancing
diversification, alongside cocoa intensification towards boosting the incomes
of producers.

The MOU seeks to boost support for market
transformation by working simultaneously with relevant stakeholders and actors
within the cocoa sector, a statement issued by Cocobod and copied to the Ghana
News Agency, in Accra, on Tuesday stated.

Under the Agreement, COCOBOD would continue to
provide technical and advisory support to the various cocoa programmes managed
by Solidaridad West Africa.

These include ‘The Next Generation Cocoa
Programme (MASO) funded by the MasterCard Foundation’ and the ‘Cocoa
Rehabilitation and Intensification Programme (CORIP) Phase II’ funded by the
Dutch Government with support from the cocoa industry companies and other
financial inclusion partners.

The MOU was signed between Mr. Joseph Boahen
Aidoo, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board and Mr. Isaac Gyamfi,
Regional Director for Solidaridad West Africa, the statement said.

“The agreement is to enhance the relationship
with Solidaridad at a time the Government of Ghana is pursuing strategic
partnerships for cocoa sustainability actions in Ghana,” it said.

“We are confident that under this arrangement,
the cocoa sector can benefit enormously from Solidaridad’s expertise in
stimulating the cocoa supply chain through innovations in good practices and
sustainable landscapes management.”

Solidaridad pledged its commitment to support
the continual improvement of sustainable cocoa production systems in Ghana
through rehabilitation and intensification approaches that seek to reduce the
current area under cultivation, the statement said.

It said Solidaridad committed to free land for
other agricultural activities, while maintaining the high profitability of the
cocoa industry.

“We are determined to work with Cocobod to
pursue conscious programming on diversification alongside cocoa
intensification, as this can boost the incomes of producers and build
resilience for any potential farmgate price volatility”.

Cocobod is the national body responsible for
policy and regulation of production, processing and marketing of Cocoa, whereas
Solidaridad is an international Civil Society Organisation with 50 years of
global experience in facilitating the development of socially responsible,
ecologically sound and profitable supply chains towards an inclusive
economy. 

The two partners will explore deeper working
relationship as far as COCOBOD’s own programming is concerned. This would
ensure consistency and alignment of programmes implemented by both institutions
towards a vibrant and resilient cocoa economy of Ghana.

GNA

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