The European Union has dismissed reports that Ghana’s cocoa will be banned on the international market.

Speaking on behalf of the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaarly, at the 2022 Orange Cocoa Day, a Director at the EU Office in Ghana, Celine Madsen Prud’homme, revealed that the EU rather wants more of Ghana’s cocoa. She indicated that cocoa from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are amongst the best in the world as they meet requirements from the EU.

“As my ambassador said earlier, there will be no ban… There is no ban on Ghana’s cocoa. On the contrary, we want more of Ghana’s cocoa…”
Irchad Razaarly

Celine Madsen Prud’homme indicated that the call for more sustainable cocoa production is growing globally and citizens in Europe are increasingly demanding measures for ensuring that cocoa and other commodities are produced in an environmentally sustainable way.

The Director at the EU Office in Ghana explained that EU’s legislation on “afforestation and forest degradation must not be seen as a threat to Ghana’s cocoa”.

On her part, Deputy Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Katja Lasseur, expressed Netherland’s commitment to efficient land use in Ghana. She highlighted that the Netherlands invested significant amount of monies in agriculture exports last year.

“Last year alone, our total agricultural exports were worth a hundred and ten billion Euros. This is made possible amongst other things because stakeholders work to ensure responsible and optimum utilization of land. That’s why we chose this theme because it will help to share our knowledge, technology and investment opportunities to support efficient land use.”
Katja Lasseur

Fight against galamsey in the country

Meanwhile, Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has revealed that the ministry is enforcing the Joint Framework for Action, signed in 2017 with 36 cocoa and chocolate producing companies. This, he explained, is in a bid to halt deforestation and degradation of the forest in the cocoa value chain.

Mr Jinapor stated that government is ramping up education and sensitisation. With this, he urged traditional and local authorities, farmers and members of the local community to rally behind the government.

“It is disheartening, that while we are taking all these measures, people are selling their cocoa farms to illegal miners without thinking about the long-term effect of their actions on the environment. This is a matter we must deal with, which we are fully committed to. But we need the cooperation of all.”
Samuel Abu Jinapor

It will be recalled that Information Minister, Kojo Oppong, had earlier hinted that Ghana’s Embassy in Belgium under the leadership of Ambassador Sena Boateng, has brought to the attention of the Government of Ghana that Europe via a new legislation, could soon make Ghanaian cocoa and coffee not exportable to many international markets.

This is due to the destruction of cocoa lands by illegal mining activities, as there are fears that the activities of the illegal miners may affect some cocoa beans.