The Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has raised concerns over a provision in the newly passed Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Bill, 2026, warning that it could significantly limit the rights of cocoa farmers to determine how their lands are used.
In a public statement following Parliament’s passage of the bill on July 30, 2026, the lawmaker cautioned cocoa farmers and landowners to familiarize themselves with the new legal regime, which he says prohibits the conversion of cocoa farms to other uses except for cocoa cultivation or rehabilitation.
According to the MP, the legislation applies regardless of the ownership status of the land, whether it is privately owned, family property, or stool land.
“If you are a cocoa farmer or anyone who owns a cocoa farm, you should note that the new COCOBOD Act passed by Parliament about a week ago prohibits you from using your farmland for any other purposes except the growing of cocoa or for rehabilitation purposes,” he stated.
Hon. Osei Nyarko further asserted that under the new law, farmers who cut down their cocoa plantations for alternative purposes could face prosecution.
He argued that the provision undermines the property rights of cocoa farmers, insisting that landowners should retain the freedom to determine how their lands are used.
“Per the new Act, it doesn’t matter whether you own the land permanently or it belongs to a family or a stool, you will be prosecuted if you decide to cut down your cocoa farm or plantation for any other purposes. A cocoa farmer or an owner of a cocoa farmland must have the right to decide what to use the land for at any given time,” he said.
His comments have sparked fresh debate over the balance between protecting Ghana’s cocoa industry and safeguarding the property rights of farmers.
Parliament passed the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, on July 30, replacing the 1984 Ghana Cocoa Board Act (PNDCL 81) with a comprehensive legal framework aimed at reforming and strengthening Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Among the key provisions of the new legislation is a guarantee that cocoa farmers will receive at least 70 percent of the gross Free-on-Board (FOB) export price of cocoa, a move intended to improve farmer incomes.
The law also mandates that a minimum of 50 percent of Ghana’s total cocoa production be processed locally to promote value addition, industrialization, and job creation.
In addition, the Act establishes a contributory Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme and an Educational Trust Scheme to provide long-term social protection and educational support for cocoa farmers and their dependents.
To improve financial sustainability within the sector, the legislation creates a Cocoa Sector Debt Sinking Fund and a Cocoa Stabilisation and Diversification Fund.
It further establishes a dedicated Cocoa Tribunal to handle offences and disputes relating to the cocoa industry.
While many stakeholders have welcomed the reforms aimed at improving farmer welfare and strengthening the cocoa value chain, concerns raised by Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko suggest that some provisions of the law may face scrutiny, particularly those relating to restrictions on the use of cocoa farmlands and the implications for landowners’ rights.
The implementation of the new law is expected to generate further discussions among policymakers, cocoa farmers, traditional authorities, and industry stakeholders as Ghana seeks to protect its cocoa industry while balancing the interests of landowners and agricultural investors.
By 1960news.com
