Optical absorption and photoconductivity spectra of undoped and Co-doped Cd$_{4}$GeSe$_{6}$ single crystals, grown by the chemical transport reaction using iodine as a transporting agent, were investigated. At 20K, the optical energy gaps of the single crystals are 1.934eV for Cd$_{4}$GeSe$_{6}$ and 1.815eV for Cd$_{4}$GeSe$_{6}$ :Co$^{2+}$. The photoconductivity spectra of these single crystals were closely investigated over the temperature range 20-290K. At 20K, the photoconductivity peaks were located at 1.797eV, 1.347eV for Cd$_{4}$GeSe$_{6}$ and 1.815eV, I,.57eV, 1.46eV and 1.38eV for Cd$_{4}$GeSe$_{6}$ :Co$^{2+}$, respectively.ely.