By Stephen Asante
Accra, May 26, GNA – The European Union says Ghana has made remarkable progress in building a traceable and legal cocoa supply chain ahead of the EU Deforestation Regulation taking effect on Dec. 30, 2026.
Speaking at the Fourth EU Deforestation Regulation Multi-Stakeholder Event in Accra, EU Ambassador to Ghana Rune Skinnebach said Ghana’s efforts position the country as a leader in sustainable cocoa production.
He cited the roll-out of the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System by COCOBOD, a new deforestation risk assessment methodology, and the Forestry Commission’s 2020 forest map developed for EUDR compliance using the FAO forest definition.
“Ghana has hit the ground running and made remarkable progress in preparing for compliance. “Mr Skinnebach said.
The map will serve as key data for EUDR compliance assessments, he added.
Mr. Skinnebach also acknowledged the role of the private sector, civil society and farmer-based organisations in moving the cocoa sector toward sustainability.
The EUDR, adopted in June 2023, requires companies placing cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya, wood and cattle products on the EU market to prove they are deforestation-free and legally produced. Operators must conduct due diligence and submit a compliance statement.
Although implementation was delayed, the European Commission has confirmed Dec. 30, 2026, as the start date and released measures to simplify compliance.
Mr Skinnebach said deforestation is a global crisis that threatens climate, livelihoods and Ghana’s cocoa sector. The EU law aims to reduce the bloc’s contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation.
In Ghana, cocoa accounts for 95 per cent of the export value of the seven commodities covered by the regulation, he said.
GNA
Reporter:Stephen Asante
[email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong