Ghana Cocoa Board Warns of 16% Output Decline Amid El Niño Threat
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has projected a 16% decline in cocoa output, raising concerns about potential increases in chocolate prices. This forecast is attributed to several factors, including the anticipated El Niño conditions, excessive rainfall in May and June, and the natural bearing cycle of cocoa trees, which alternate between high and low yield years. The Western and Western North regions of Ghana, which contribute significantly to the country's cocoa production, are expected to be the most affected. The decline is exacerbated by the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease, aging plantations, and the impact of illegal small-scale gold mining, known locally as galamsey, which degrades farmland and displaces cocoa groves. In response, COCOBOD is implementing measures such as farm rehabilitation, increased insecticide and fungicide spraying, and a nationwide free fertilizer distribution program for the 2026/2027 crop year. 
