By Rebecca Ampah
Stakeholders across Ghana’s cocoa value chain have intensified preparations toward the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Government agencies, international partners and private sector actors reaffirm their commitment to ensuring Ghanaian cocoa remains competitive, traceable and compliant on the European market ahead of December 2026 Deadline.
At a high-level multi-stakeholder technical event held in Accra on Tuesday, May 26, key industry actors reviewed Ghana’s readiness for the EUDR, which officially enters into application on December 30, 2026.
The regulation is expected to significantly reshape global commodity trade by requiring products entering the European Union to be traceable to where it was produced, certified as being deforestation-free and legally produced according to the laws of producer countries. The regulation covers seven major commodities; cocoa, coffee, wood, palm oil, rubber, beef and soy, along with a range of derived products.
The event, brought together representatives from the European Union, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the Forestry Commission, development partners, civil society organisations, private sector actors and cocoa farmers.
Ghana’s Cocoa Sector at the Center of EUDR Compliance
Speaking at the event, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, described the regulation as both a challenge and an opportunity for producing and consuming countries to jointly build sustainable and transparent commodity supply chains.
According to him, cocoa remains the most significant commodity under the EUDR framework in Ghana, accounting for approximately 95% of the export value of all commodities covered by the regulation.
“Deforestation is not just a local challenge ; it is a global crisis, one that threatens our climate, our livelihoods, and the very future of Ghana’s cocoa sector,” Ambassador Skinnebach stated.
He emphasized that EUDR is intended to promote the consumption of deforestation-free products while reducing the European Union’s contribution to global forest degradation.
“EUDR is a shared opportunity, as producer and consumer countries work together to build sustainable, transparent supply chains while protecting our precious forests,” he said.
The Ambassador commended Ghana for making substantial progress toward compliance, particularly through the collaboration between COCOBOD and the Forestry Commission.
“Ghana’s progress in aligning national systems with the EUDR is commendable, and we value, in particular the strong collaboration with COCOBOD and the Forestry Commission,” he added.
COCOBOD Unveils Traceability and Risk Assessment Systems
A major highlight of the event was COCOBOD’s presentation on the operationalisation of systems designed to facilitate compliance with the EU regulation. The Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Randy Abbey, announced that Ghana has already put in place mechanisms that would enable companies exporting cocoa to the European market to meet the strict EUDR requirements.
“We have put in place systems and measures that will enable companies meet their obligations under the EUDR, including cocoa traceability and deforestation risk assessment, and we are committed to supplying the EU market with compliant cocoa,” Dr. Abbey said.
Central to Ghana’s compliance strategy is the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System (GCTS), which enables cocoa beans to be tracked from farm level through the supply chain to export ports. The system is expected to provide the traceability data required under the EUDR, while enhancing transparency within Ghana’s cocoa industry. In addition to the traceability platform, COCOBOD also introduced the Deforestation Risk Assessment Module (DRM), developed to assess potential risks of non-conformity with the EUDR.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of COCOBOD’s management, Deputy Director for Monitoring and Evaluation, Eric Amengor, reiterated Ghana’s commitment to maintaining access to international cocoa markets while protecting forest resources.
“Ghana’s cocoa sector remains not only an economic commodity, but also a strategic national asset that supports the livelihoods of millions of farmers and contributes significantly to our economy,” he said.
Mr. Amengor noted that despite the postponement of the regulation’s implementation timeline, Ghana had already fully operationalised the national traceability system.
He explained that COCOBOD and its partners have undertaken extensive interventions over the past few years, including farmer and farm mapping, data validation, farmer onboarding, stakeholder sensitisation and institutional coordination.
“These interventions are aimed at ensuring Ghana’s readiness for EUDR implementation,” he stated.
Forestry Commission Launches 2020 Forest Cover Map
Another major milestone announced during the event was the launch of the 2020 forest cover map for cocoa-growing regions by the Forestry Commission of Ghana. The map was developed using the Food and Agriculture Organization’s forest definition, as required under the EUDR framework, and is expected to serve as a national reference for deforestation risk assessments.
The mapping exercise was undertaken with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Forest Institute, and validated by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and COCOBOD. The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Hugh Brown, described the map as a crucial tool for regulatory compliance.
“The 2020 Forest Map is a national reference, offering greater mapping precision than existing global tools. Designed in particular for EUDR purposes, it provides a key source of data for assessing regulatory compliance,” Dr. Brown said.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Deputy Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, noted that the EUDR represents a major advancement in global efforts to combat deforestation and promote sustainability. He stressed that, the newly developed forest cover map would support both COCOBOD and EU operators in conducting due diligence and assessing deforestation risks accurately.
“This map is not just a tool; it is a foundational resource designed to support COCOBOD and EU operators in their due diligence efforts,” he said.
Collaboration Identified as Key to Successful Implementation
Throughout the event, speakers consistently underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among governments, regulators, development partners, private sector actors and cocoa farmers. Ambassador Skinnebach emphasized that dialogue and collective action would remain essential to ensuring a smooth transition into full EUDR implementation.
“As the saying goes: ‘Alone, we go faster; together, we go further.’ And together, we will go further,” he told participants.
Stakeholders also acknowledged that while significant progress has been made, continuous engagement would be necessary to address remaining logistical and operational challenges before the regulation comes into force.
The event formed part of the broader EU Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, which supports Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in promoting ethical, deforestation-free and climate-resilient cocoa production.
The initiative aligns with the European Union’s Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, while supporting traceable supply chains, fair labour practices and improved livelihoods for cocoa farmers.
