The government has directed the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to immediately pay all cocoa farmers who are owed money, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced.
The directive came at a press briefing on Thursday, February 12, following an emergency Cabinet meeting held the previous day to address mounting challenges in the cocoa sector.
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Ato Forson said the Cabinet had approved reforms aimed at protecting farmers, stabilising the industry, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
“To bring relief to unpaid cocoa farmers, Cabinet has accordingly directed COCOBOD to commence immediate payment of all affected farmers,” he stated.
The emergency session, convened on Wednesday, February 11, underscores the Mahama administration’s commitment to resolving the worsening situation in the cocoa value chain.
Thousands of farmers across cocoa-growing communities have reportedly gone months without payment, creating severe hardship. Some have struggled to meet basic needs, while others have had to reduce meals, withdraw children from school, or neglect farm activities due to lack of funds.
COCOBOD is also managing about 50,000 metric tonnes of unsold cocoa at the ports, while Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) are owed roughly GH¢2.04 billion (approximately $185 million).
In some areas, farmers claim they have not received payment since November 2025, triggering tensions, including reports of purchasing clerks being detained by frustrated producers.
The payment delays have been linked to several factors, including the collapse of international financing arrangements, discrepancies between Ghana’s farmgate prices and falling global cocoa prices, as well as outstanding forward sales contracts agreed at historically low rates.
Government says the new Cabinet-approved measures are intended to restore confidence in the sector, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and place the cocoa industry on a more sustainable path.
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