The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is recruiting 50,000 people to be engaged in nationwide cocoa rehabilitation work, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive Officer said over the weekend.

Already, he revealed that 30,000 people had been engaged for land pollination, while an additional 48,000 had been engaged for mass cocoa spraying.

Interacting with the media at Abesim, near Sunyani during a visit to the Bono Region, Mr Aidoo said the cocoa sector contributed to a substantial aspect of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and cocoa products had huge health benefits as well.

“Cocoa has a significant impact on blood circulation and enhances cognitive intelligence,” he said and advised Ghanaians to consume more cocoa products so as to build their immune systems against diseases.

Mr Aidoo indicated that globally, Ghana produced the highest quality cocoa beans, hence the need for the nation to invest hugely and make the cocoa sector a catalyst to widen the nation’s foreign income earnings.

He called on the media to support and intensify advocacy, and subsequent passage of legislation that would support the US$400 Living Income Differential (LID) in the cocoa sector.

The US$400 LID is a new premium meant to support cocoa farmers in the country to tackle pervasive farmer poverty.

Mr Aidoo added the LID had come to stay, saying the COCOBOD was in the process of engaging the leadership of the minority in parliament to facilitate the passage of a legislation that would assist its implementation.