Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has called for a comprehensive review of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), suggesting the institution may no longer be essential to Ghana’s economic management. Thompson made these remarks during a lecture on infrastructure and development planning at the Ishmael Yamson & Associates Business Roundtable 2026, emphasizing that cocoa’s diminished economic dominance necessitates a re-evaluation of how the sector is administered.
Shifting Economic Landscape
Historically, cocoa played a pivotal role in Ghana’s economy. In the 1920s, it constituted nearly 80 percent of the Gold Coast’s economy, and by 1951, this figure stood at approximately 60 percent. However, current contributions to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have fallen to less than two percent.
This significant decline raises questions about the necessity of maintaining a large, bureaucratic body like COCOBOD. “Why then do we need a bureaucratic behemoth to superintend the sector?” Dr. Thompson questioned.
Productivity and Bureaucracy Concerns
Despite decades of state intervention through COCOBOD, the chairman argued that the institution has failed to achieve substantial improvements in cocoa sector productivity. Output levels remain below potential and lag behind those of some competing cocoa-producing nations.
Thompson also pointed to what he described as excessive bureaucracy and misplaced priorities within COCOBOD. He cited reports of a COCOBOD guest house in London as an example, contrasting it with the persistent poverty faced by many cocoa farmers within Ghana.
“Food crop farmers remain the poorest socio-economic group in the country, followed ironically by cash crop farmers,” he stated, highlighting a critical issue in rural livelihoods.
Questioning National Farmers Day
The relevance of the annual National Farmers Day celebration also came under fire. Dr. Thompson suggested that despite years of awards and recognition ceremonies, the event has not demonstrably improved farmers’ welfare or significantly reduced Ghana’s food import bill.
He alluded to potential financial difficulties within the program, mentioning, “I understand we couldn’t even pay the money for a prize winner.” This observation led him to support calls for the program’s abolition.
The NDPC Chairman advocated for reforms aimed at enhancing productivity and ensuring that resources are channeled more effectively into sectors capable of driving economic transformation and improving the lives of citizens.
Implications and Future Outlook
These statements from a high-ranking development planning official signal a potential shift in how Ghana approaches its agricultural sector, particularly cocoa. The calls for reviewing COCOBOD’s structure and the effectiveness of National Farmers Day suggest a move towards greater efficiency and a focus on tangible economic outcomes rather than traditional institutions.
Stakeholders in the cocoa industry and agricultural sector will be watching closely to see if these discussions translate into concrete policy changes. The focus is likely to shift towards modernizing cocoa farming practices, improving farmer livelihoods through direct interventions, and potentially reallocating resources to more dynamic sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
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