Ghana's government to acquire land for cocoa plantations

The Government of Ghana announced plans to acquire 200,000 hectares of land for cocoa plantations by the end of 2026 as part of efforts to revive the country’s cocoa sector and reverse declining production. The initiative is intended to complement existing smallholder farming operations and support long term growth in cocoa output. Ghana’s cocoa production has fallen sharply in recent years due to climate challenges, disease outbreaks, and the impact of illegal mining on cocoa growing areas. According to government estimates, production has declined from a peak of approximately one million tonnes to around 500,000 tonnes. Officials described the proposed land acquisition programme as a strategic intervention designed to expand production capacity, improve sector resilience, and restore Ghana’s position as a leading global cocoa producer. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the cocoa industry and ensure sustainable growth in one of the country’s most important export sectors.