The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), in partnership with the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Ghana, and a broad coalition of cocoa sector stakeholders, has officially launched the GhanaCocoaMonitor—a groundbreaking digital platform aimed at transforming the country’s cocoa sector through enhanced transparency, accountability, and sustainability.
Unveiled at a high-level stakeholder forum in Accra, the GhanaCocoaMonitor is designed to provide end-to-end visibility across the cocoa supply chain. The platform supports real-time monitoring, traceability, and sustainability reporting, directly addressing growing international demands for ethical and deforestation-free cocoa sourcing.
Speaking at the launch, COCOBOD CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo described the GhanaCocoaMonitor as a “critical leap forward” in Ghana’s efforts to align with evolving global standards—especially the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).
> “This platform is not just about compliance—it is about restoring trust, empowering our farmers, and demonstrating to the world that Ghana cocoa is sustainable, ethical, and competitive,” Aidoo stated.
The GhanaCocoaMonitor builds on COCOBOD’s ongoing traceability and farm mapping efforts, which have already registered over 1.2 million cocoa farmers nationwide.
The platform enables users to trace cocoa from farm to port, verify that cocoa is not linked to deforestation, and assess environmental and labor-related risks. It integrates data from licensed buying companies (LBCs), farmer cooperatives, NGOs, and regulatory agencies, ensuring a unified approach to sustainability.
EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, lauded the initiative as a model for responsible trade:
> “The GhanaCocoaMonitor positions Ghana as a leader in sustainable cocoa production. It allows European importers and consumers to have full confidence in the cocoa they source.”
Beyond regulatory compliance, the GhanaCocoaMonitor aims to empower cocoa farmers through improved access to information, fair pricing mechanisms, and digital payment systems. By eliminating opacity in the supply chain, it also reduces the risk of smuggling and underreporting—challenges that have long affected the sector.
FAO Ghana Representative Yurdi Yasmi emphasized the importance of collaboration:
> “This achievement is a product of deep cooperation among local and international actors. The FAO is proud to support Ghana in ensuring that sustainability in agriculture is more than just a promise—it is measurable and verifiable.”
Pilot implementation of the GhanaCocoaMonitor is already underway in key cocoa-growing districts, with full national rollout expected by early 2026. Training programs for farmers and LBCs are being scaled up, ensuring that stakeholders across the value chain can use the platform effectively.
As global markets increasingly demand ethical sourcing and environmental accountability, Ghana’s move to digitize and monitor its cocoa sector marks a significant stride in maintaining its status as a top-tier cocoa producer.
By : Isaac Fiifi Klotey Mensah