The Western North Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the government of deliberately neglecting the cocoa sector, warning that the situation could push the once-thriving industry towards collapse.
In a press release dated January 11, 2026, and signed by the Regional Communications Officer, Addo Harry, the party said government attention has shifted away from cocoa in favour of gold trading under the GOLDBOD initiative, to the detriment of Ghana’s traditional foreign exchange earner.
According to the NPP, while the Ministry of Finance has made substantial financial commitments to support GOLDBOD, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been left under-resourced, affecting its ability to operate effectively.
The party noted that since November 2025, licensed buying companies (LBCs) have not received sufficient funds to purchase cocoa from farmers at the farm gate.
As a result, it said, many farmers are holding large quantities of bagged cocoa without buyers, forcing them to store their produce for extended periods.
The NPP further raised concerns about what it described as an acute nationwide shortage of cocoa jute sacks. For the first time in decades, buying companies are reportedly unable to access approved jute sacks, compelling farmers and buyers to use fertiliser sacks to store cocoa beans.
The party warned that this practice compromises cocoa quality and violates international standards.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, the NPP called on government and COCOBOD to immediately release adequate funds to LBCs to facilitate cocoa purchases nationwide and to urgently supply jute sacks to all buying companies.
The party cautioned that continued neglect of the cocoa sector could fuel cocoa smuggling to neighbouring countries, worsen poverty among cocoa farmers, and increase the number of farmers leasing or selling their farms to illegal miners.
“Cocoa farmers need prompt payment for their produce, and buying companies need funds and jute sacks to operate effectively,” the statement said, urging authorities to end what it described as the “starvation of the cocoa sector.”
