World Bank Injects $75m into Cocoa Rehabilitation to Revive Ghana’s Farms
The World Bank has committed about $75 million to support the rehabilitation of approximately 25,000 hectares of cocoa farms in Ghana, as the sector grapples with disease outbreaks and declining productivity.
The funding, mobilised under the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), is expected to restore degraded farmlands, boost yields, and improve farmer incomes while strengthening the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
Speaking at a Civil Society Organisation engagement on food security in Accra, Agricultural Economist at the World Bank Ghana, Dr. Ashwini Sebastian, said the initiative forms part of broader regional efforts to build resilient food systems.
According to her, the programme leverages grant financing secured through partnerships, including seed funding from the Norwegian government, to support key agricultural value chains.
“The programme allows us to channel critical resources into priority areas within agriculture,” she noted, adding that the intervention goes beyond cocoa production.
Dr. Sebastian explained that the initiative also supports the development of improved seed systems in selected agricultural clusters. This includes trials of crop varieties designed to withstand dry season conditions, particularly in northern Ghana, where climate variability continues to affect productivity.
“We are piloting resilient seed varieties that can thrive during the dry season to improve output and strengthen food security,” she said.
In addition, the programme is distributing cashew seedlings to farmers as part of efforts to diversify income sources and reduce overreliance on cocoa.
Describing the cocoa rehabilitation component as a flagship intervention, Dr. Sebastian disclosed that an initial target of 5,000 hectares is expected to be restored by July.
The initiative will involve replacing diseased and ageing cocoa trees with improved, high-yielding, and disease-resistant varieties, alongside the promotion of better farm management practices.
Ghana’s cocoa sector continues to face significant challenges, including swollen shoot disease, aging plantations, and the impact of climate change. Industry analysts argue that large-scale rehabilitation is crucial to reversing declining output.
With cocoa remaining a key foreign exchange earner, the success of the programme is expected to support export revenues and enhance rural livelihoods, reinforcing the resilience of Ghana’s agricultural economy.
