The Minority Caucus strongly urges the government to immediately settle all outstanding payments to cocoa farmers for their produce.
Addressing a news conference in parliament for the minority, Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs committee and MP for Ofinso South, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku said Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) have failed to pay farmers not because of negligence, but due to the inability of COCOBOD to reimburse them for cocoa already purchased and delivered.
Saying, “the current crisis in Ghana’s cocoa industry is deeply troubling, as licensed buying companies (LBCs) have not paid farmers since November 2025. While these companies cannot be solely blamed—since funds already spent on purchasing and delivering cocoa are still withheld—their inability to access reimbursements has forced them to halt further purchases”.
“As a result, farmers are left with no choice but to sell their cocoa on credit, at discounted prices, or leave their produce unsold. This situation threatens the stability of our vital cocoa sector and the broader economy, given the significance of cocoa to Ghana”.
According to the Minority, COCOBOD and the government must be held accountable for failing to reimburse the buying companies for cocoa already delivered. LBCs have borrowed heavily from banks and traders to finance the harvest, yet COCOBOD currently owes over GH¢10 billion in unpaid cocoa receipts. Continuing to process and purchase cocoa under these conditions will only increase the backlog of receipts and deepen the financial crisis.
He said contrary to statements suggesting sufficient funds have been released, the reality is that farmers have not been paid for their cocoa since last November. For those relying solely on cocoa income, the past three months have been devastating. Many farmers have had to sell their cocoa at significant discounts just to survive, leading to severe hardships, “we have received heartbreaking reports: farmers unable to afford essential medicines or send their children to school, and some even postponing Christmas celebrations due to unpaid dues”.
They seyduring the last elections, leaders from the NDC promised to improve cocoa farmers’ livelihoods—Hon. Eric Opoku pledged GH¢6,000 per bag, and Hon. Ato Forson promised GH¢7,000 if the NDC came to power. Yet, today, the farmgate price is only GH¢3,625 per 64kg bag—far below what was promised—and farmers are being denied payment altogether. Now, instead of fulfilling promises, the NDC government plans to reduce the current producer price to enable payments, which is unacceptable and a betrayal of trust.
Since assuming office in January 2025, the government has engaged in unnecessary transfers and promotions, wasting millions of Cedis, while farmers continue to toil under harsh conditions without being paid. This mismanagement is reversing progress in the cocoa industry and undermining the livelihood of our farmers. Many are struggling to feed their families and reinvest in their farms, which jeopardizes the future of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
This failure is also harming local businesses and indigenous companies involved in cocoa buying and transport. By delaying payments to LBCs, the government is risking the collapse of these vital enterprises, eroding confidence, and undermining investments—directly contradicting pre-election promises to support local industry.
The group however called on the government and COCOBOD to pay cocoa farmers immediately and fully for all cocoa sold. “We demand an apology for this gross neglect and insist that COCOBOD reimburse all outstanding payments to LBCs. Furthermore, prompt payment for future deliveries must be guaranteed to prevent this crisis from recurring. Our cocoa farmers deserve dignity, respect, and timely compensation—paying them on time is not a favor, but a fundamental obligation”.
