The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has urged cocoa farmers to support ongoing traceability and sustainability reforms to ensure Ghana's cocoa industry complies with international standards, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The call forms part of COCOBOD's nationwide farmer sensitisation campaign on the reintroduced Free Fertiliser and Agro-Inputs Distribution Programme and broader reforms aimed at revitalising the cocoa sector.

Addressing farmers during the engagements, the Deputy Head of Public Affairs, Benjamin Teye Larweh, said compliance with the EUDR, the African Regional Standards (ARS) and other emerging consumer-focused requirements is essential to maintaining Ghana's access to key export markets and preserving its reputation for premium-quality cocoa.

He explained that the standards require farmers and other actors within the cocoa value chain to protect the environment, adopt responsible farming practices and ensure cocoa can be traced from the farm to the market.

According to Mr Larweh, the reforms form part of government's broader agenda to build a financially sustainable, transparent and globally competitive cocoa sector that delivers greater value to farmers while maintaining Ghana's standing as a leading producer of premium-quality cocoa.

The sensitisation exercise, being undertaken by COCOBOD's Public Affairs Department in collaboration with the Cocoa Pest and Disease Control (CODAPEC) Unit of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), has begun in the Western South and Ashanti regions and will be extended to cocoa-growing communities across the country.

COCOBOD said the nationwide campaign is intended to educate farmers on ongoing sector reforms, improve stakeholder engagement and ensure the successful implementation of interventions designed to promote sustainable growth in Ghana's cocoa industry.