The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, has sounded the alarm over mounting hardship in Ghana’s cocoa sector, urging the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to immediately pay farmers for beans sold since November 2025.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on February 5, Mr. Opoku warned that payment delays are driving both farmers and the industry to the brink of crisis.
Mr. Opoku revealed that many cocoa farmers have not received payments for over three months, leaving them unable to afford necessities like medication, school fees, or care for sick relatives. Some, he said, were even forced to forgo Christmas celebrations due to financial strain. The hardship has been compounded by Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), who, unable to secure reimbursement from COCOBOD for cocoa already delivered, now owe farmers billions of cedis and have had to halt new purchases.
“Farmers are being forced to sell on credit, accept heavy discounts, or return home with unsold produce,” Mr. Opoku said, painting a bleak picture of the human and economic toll. He dismissed claims by COCOBOD that sufficient funds had been released as misleading, stating that the reality on the ground was one of financial distress and broken promises.
The Ranking Member also criticized the government for failing to deliver on campaign pledges of higher producer prices, noting that the current farmgate price of GH¢3,625 per 64kg bag falls far short of the GH¢6,000–GH¢7,000 per bag promised to farmers before the 2024 elections. He expressed concern over reports that the government might consider reducing the producer price to settle arrears, describing such a move as a betrayal.
Beyond the plight of farmers, Mr. Opoku warned that the survival of indigenous cocoa buying companies and transporters is at risk, with capital locked up and operations grinding to a halt. He attributed some of the financial woes to wasteful spending and administrative mismanagement within COCOBOD.
The Minority Caucus is demanding immediate payment to cocoa farmers for all outstanding cocoa beans, full reimbursement of LBCs, and prompt settlement of future deliveries.
They are also calling for a formal apology from both the government and COCOBOD, insisting that timely payment is not a privilege but a fundamental duty. “Cocoa farmers are not beggars. Paying them on time is an obligation,” Mr. Opoku declared.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
