The Ghana Cocoa Board has presented prizes to the winners of the 2024 best cocoa farmers at the headoffice in Accra.

Mr Kwame Alex from the Western North won the 2024 National Best Cocoa Farmer at the 40th National Farmers’ Day Awards held in Accra.

Mr Alex has about 130 hectares of land and produces over 3,000 bags of cocoa a year.

He was presented with a Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick-up, a standard pruner, cocoa products, a plaque, and safety goggles.

The rest are two respirators, ear protectors, hand gloves, Wellington boots, and a motorised sprayer.

Madam Yaa Adjeley from the Western South, who won the 2024 National Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer Award, was presented with a cheaque for GHC 80,000 from the Cocoa World Foundation (CWF).

She was also presented with a single-cabin mini truck, a tricycle, a standard pruner, cocoa products, and a plaque.

All the Regional Minister Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmers were presented with a cheque of GHc 20,000.00 from the CWF.

Mr Solomon Tohola from Assin Fosu in the Central Region won the 2024 National Most Promising Cocoa Farmer Award.

He was presented with a single-cabin mini truck, a tricycle, a standard pruner, cocoa products, and a plaque.

The rest are overalls with hats, safety goggles, respirators, ear protectors, hand gloves, Wellington boots, and a motorised sprayer.

Ms Winifred Batabana from the Savana region won the National Sheanut Picker and was presented with a tricycle, pairs of hand gloves, pairs of Wellington boots, overalls with hats, a Polo T-shirt, solar torchlights, cocoa products, a plaque, and machetes.

Mr Victor Benefo won the Best Coffee Farmer with a tricycle, pairs of hand gloves, pairs of Wellington boots, overalls with hats, a Polo T-shirt, solar torchlights, cocoa products, a plaque, and others.

Since its establishment in 1985, the Farmers’ Day celebration has been a platform for COCOBOD to recognise and reward the efforts of cocoa and coffee farmers, as well as shea nut pickers, who have distinguished themselves in their sectors at national, regional, and district levels. 

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board, expressed satisfaction about the exploits of the award winners, hoping the gesture would improve the cocoa sector.

The recognition, he stressed, would encourage the winners to give their best out and expand their production for the benefit and the nation as a whole.

He advised the farmers to avoid illicit trading of cocoa to individuals or organisations, appealing to them to report such activities to the Police for the necessary action.

The Chief Executive stated that the cocoa sector was a national strategic commodity that raked in foreign exchange to the country and must be protected and well harnessed for the benefits of the nation.

He advised the media to be circumspect in their reportage on issues relating to cocoa, adding that publications about the industry could make or unmake fortunes for the cocoa sector internationally.

Mr Alex on behalf of the winners, thanked the government and all for the honour done them, stressing that the awards would spur them to do more to strengthen the cocoa sector.

He pledged to use the vehicle to visit the district and educate the youth about the importance of venturing into the cocoa industry.

This year’s celebration was on the theme: “Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security.” 

The 40th edition emphasised the nation’s commitment to adapting agricultural practices in response to climate change challenges.