Focus on trading cocoa – Gawu to COCOBOD

The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has backed calls for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to focus on its core mandate of trading cocoa beans, arguing that the state institution lacks the expertise for road construction.

The support follows remarks by business executive Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, who, speaking at the National Economic Dialogue 2025, criticized COCOBOD for deviating from its primary role and engaging in road construction. He stressed the need for the institution to realign with its mandate.

Reacting to this, former General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh, supported the call, warning that COCOBOD’s involvement in road projects poses a financial burden on the cocoa industry.

“Given the developments within the cocoa industry, this type of forum seems not to be visible because it has led to a lot of money being spent, with no value for money on the investment, as well as creating managerial problems for COCOBOD. So it will not be out of place if road construction is taken out of COCOBOD.

In any case, what is the technical capacity of COCOBOD to engage in road construction? That would be too much to demand from COCOBOD because its expertise is in cocoa production, not road construction,” he added.

Edward Kareweh further called for collaboration between COCOBOD and relevant state institutions responsible for road development to ensure proper infrastructure in cocoa-growing areas.

The question is whether COCOBOD is the best institution to construct its roads. If they need roads leading to farm gates, another competent institution should handle that. This is why there must be a strong linkage between state institutions to effectively address the country’s needs,” he said.

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