In this work Zn$_4$GeSe$_{6}$ :CO$^{2+}$ single crystals were grown by the chemical transport reaction method in which the iodine was used as the transporting agent. The Zn$_4$GeSe$_{6}$ :CO$^{2+}$ single crystal was found to have a monoclinic structure. The optical absorption spectra of grown crystals were investigated using a temperature-controlled UV-VIS -NIR spectrophotometer. The temperature dependence of band-edge absorption was in a good agreement with the Varshni equation. The observed impurity absorption peaks could be explained as arising from the electron transition between energy levels of Co$^{2+}$ ion sited at the T$_{d}$ symmetry point.point.