Cocoa production in Ghana will see a boost by 500,000 metric tonnes under an NPP administration, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has promised.

The running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo said “the vision of the NPP is to aggressively pursue policies that will see the addition of 500,000 metric tonnes to the current output in ten years”.

“I have visited 22 villages in the Amenfi West Constituency, since Sunday morning, interacting with farmers and other constituents on issues of development and especially the all-important cocoa sector.

“The constituency is one of the high cocoa-producing areas. However, constituents still lack many basic amenities and infrastructure, especially in the areas of education, health, and roads.

“The inhabitants have also been affected by the slump in cocoa production and difficulties in accessing and affording inputs – the result is that many trees are dying and their livelihoods keep getting worse.

“I have shared on this tour the vision of the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo for reviving the cocoa sector including the reintroduction of the mass cocoa spraying [exercise] and fertiliser subsidy programmes without discrimination,” he said on Facebook.

Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after Ivory Coast. The country targeted 850,000 metric tonnes for the 2013/2014 crop season.

Cocoa employs approximately 800,000 farm families spread over six of the ten regions of Ghana.

The crop generates about $2 billion in foreign exchange annually and is a major contributor to Government Revenue and GDP. Cocoa products like chocolate, pebbles, and cocoa powder are used by many Ghanaians.