The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has assured cocoa farmers that measures are being put in place to resolve the challenges currently affecting the sector, particularly delays in payments for cocoa beans supplied since November 2025.
The assurance comes amid growing concerns from farmers and warnings by the Minority in Parliament that prolonged payment delays could push both farmers and the cocoa industry into a deeper crisis.
Addressing a media briefing in Accra on February 6, COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer, Dr Randy Abbey, admitted that farmers are facing real difficulties, explaining that the situation has been worsened by liquidity constraints within the cocoa financing system.
He noted that COCOBOD, working with the government and other key stakeholders, is actively pursuing solutions to stabilise the sector and clear the payment backlog.
“A lot of the agitation from our dear farmers are about unpaid produce that they have sold to the license-buying companies, who buy cocoa on behalf of COCOBOD and a lot of agitation about the beans that they have available, which have not been purchased.
“We are fully aware of the issues that are going on, and we appreciate very seriously the concerns raised by the farmers and what the farmers are going through,” he said.
Dr Abbey also acknowledged the financial pressures facing licensed buying companies.
“We also appreciate the concerns raised by the license-buying companies in terms of liquidity and all that. COCOBOD, the Ministry of Finance and the Government are working together to find a solution to this issue as quickly as possible.
“The truth of the matter is that we have some liquidity challenges, and as you may be aware, contrary to what some people might make you believe, the crop is financed by buyers,” he added.
