The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahene Aidoo, has warned of challenging times in the country's cocoa industry.

Mr Aidoo expressed deep concerns about the potential loss of cocoa yield due to shifting weather patterns, anticipating significant declines in production, potentially amounting to thousands of metric tons.

He highlighted the adverse effects of extreme weather conditions on Ghana's cocoa output, stressing the urgent need for proactive measures to tackle the dual threats of climate change and cocoa diseases.

His remarks underscored the critical importance of safeguarding the future of Ghana's cocoa sector through strategic interventions and adaptation strategies.

“Our cocoa farms have been affected by the extreme weather conditions caused by excessive rains and then excessive dryness. It is definitely going to affect production.

“But it is only coming to exacerbate an existing systemic problem. Systemic problems had to do with cocoa swollen shoot disease. That is the main driver of the decrease in production of cocoa in Ghana.”