205 cocoa farmers receive support from Gold Fields Foundation                          

By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Abekoase

A total of 205 cocoa farmers in communities within the Tarkwa catchment area have received support from Gold Fields Ghana Foundation’s Cocoa Farmers Support Programme (COFAS).

The beneficiaries include 105 newly enrolled farmers from Awudua, Huniso, Pepesa, Tebe and Samahu who joined 100 farmers admitted to the programme in 2025.

Under the initiative, farmers have received approved cocoa production inputs and technical support over three production cycles to improve yields and promote sustainable farming practices. For the 2026 farming season, each beneficiary received support for a four-acre cocoa farm comprising five units of insecticides, 12 bags of fertiliser and 24 units of fungicides.

Speaking during the programme at Abekoase in Prestea Huni-Valley municipality, Robert Siaw – Sustainability Manager-Gold Fields Ghana – explained that the Foundation remains committed to improving livelihoods through investments in agriculture and enterprise development.

He explained that COFAS forms part of the Foundation’s broader agricultural development strategy aimed at increasing productivity and creating sustainable income opportunities for farmers in its host communities.

He noted that agriculture remains a key pillar of the Foundation’s development agenda, adding it has invested more than                     US$7.30million in enterprise development initiatives including the Community Oil Palm Project (COPP), Youth in Organic Horticulture Production (YouHoP), livestock development programmes and COFAS.

According to him, beneficiaries will also receive practical training and extension services through a partnership with the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) of COCOBOD to ensure effective use of the inputs provided.

“We believe that when farmers have access to quality inputs, technical knowledge and extension services, they are better positioned to improve productivity and enhance their livelihoods,” he said.

Mr. Siaw further disclosed that the Foundation has invested a total of US$111.88million in community development initiatives covering education, health, agriculture, youth empowerment, enterprise development, infrastructure, water and sanitation and environmental sustainability.

The Deputy Executive Director-Cocoa Health and Extension Division of COCOBOD (CHED), Abdul Majid Mumuni, commended the Foundation for supporting cocoa farmers’ efforts aimed at revitalising Ghana’s cocoa sector.

He said the provision of inputs will help improve productivity and increase output among beneficiary farmers.

“We expect to see significant improvements after their application, potentially increasing yields to about 10 bags per acre,” he stated.

He however cautioned farmers against engaging in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey – warning that the practice continues to destroy cocoa farms and undermine the industry’s future.

“There is a future for the cocoa sector and under no circumstances should farmers give out their cocoa farms for illegal mining activities,” he stressed.

Also speaking at the event, Western South Regional Manager-COCOBOD Samuel Essuman pointed out that illegal mining is the biggest challenge confronting the cocoa industry.

He said illegal mining activities are destroying cocoa farms despite substantial investments by COCOBOD in rehabilitation programmes.

“We recently undertook a project to rehabilitate diseased cocoa farms in the region and farmers have benefitted immensely. However, when you visit some districts you will be surprised by the extent to which galamsey activities are destroying farms that COCOBOD has invested so much to restore,” he said.

Mr. Essuman expressed concern that some farmers willingly release their lands to illegal miners in exchange for immediate financial gains, a situation he said threatens the sustainability of cocoa production.

He urged farmers to consider the long-term benefits of cocoa cultivation and protect their farms for future generations.

Wisdom Cudjoe, Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni-Valley commended Gold Fields for such an initiative and urged farmers to use the right farming inputs on their farms.

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