The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has indicated that it is not interested in an “unhealthy competition” with Ecuador over global cocoa production, arguing that both countries have different climates and soils
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Jerome K. Sam, the Head of Public Affairs for COCOBOD, stated that comparing Ecuador and Ghana over global cocoa production is flawed.
“I am not sure we should be in an unhealthy competition with Ecuador because we have different climate we have different soil and all the factors possibly are different and also it is important for us to know that Ghana was hit by Cocoa swollen shoot virus disease I am not sure same has been hit Ecuador.
“Tthat is why I am telling you that irrespective of this, these are two sovereign countries and we don’t have control over how or what they want to do in respect of the production of cocoa. But we are particular about the measures that we put in place,” he explained
His comment follows claims that Ecuador is on course to produce more than 650,000 metric tons of cocoa in the 2026/27 season, a development that could see the South American country overtake Ghana as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.
According to Iván Ontaneda, chairman of Ecuador’s cocoa exporters’ association (Anecacao), the country’s output has been growing steadily, supported by heavy investments from both the public and private sectors, as farmers take advantage of soaring world cocoa prices
