Renowned economist Prof. Godfred Bokpin has expressed concern over the decline of Ghana’s cocoa sector, warning that the country’s once-dominant industry is losing its influence, as the apparel industry now generates more foreign exchange than cocoa.
According to citinewsroom.com, He attributed this worrying trend to illegal mining, poor policies, and lack of support for cocoa farmers.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Prof. Bokpin stressed that the nation’s over-reliance on cocoa without proper investment and protection of farmlands has led to a sharp drop in output.
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Meanwhile, other critical sectors, like apparel, have surged ahead in FX earnings, he stated.
“When I say we should not be known for cocoa now, other critical aspects of the economy are actually bringing in much more FX than cocoa. Even apparel is bringing more than what cocoa is bringing now,” he revealed.
Prof. Bokpin pointed to illegal mining and irresponsible land use as key factors eroding the cocoa sector’s viability. He criticized the government’s failure to safeguard farmlands and provide adequate support for farmers.
“We’re talking about food inflation, but look at what illegal mining and irresponsible mining have done to our farmlands. Our farmers are trading off their cocoa farmlands for illegal mining, for other cash crops, and all that. We don’t have a clear national policy to preserve farmlands,” he stated.
He also highlighted the contrast between Ghana and other cocoa-producing nations, arguing that while South America and other regions are boosting their cocoa yields, Ghana’s output continues to decline.
