The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to immediately pay cocoa farmers for beans sold since November 2025, warning that delays are plunging farmers and the cocoa industry into crisis.
Ranking Member of Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, made the call during a press conference on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
He admonished the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to immediately pay cocoa farmers.
According to him, the Minority Caucus is deeply concerned about the worsening conditions facing cocoa farmers, many of whom have not been paid for over three months.
He told journalists that the Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) have been unable to pay farmers because funds for cocoa already delivered to COCOBOD have not been reimbursed.
He claimed that COCOBOD currently owes LBCs more than GH¢10 billion for cocoa taken over, leaving the companies financially constrained and unable to continue purchases.
“As a result, farmers are being forced to sell their cocoa on credit, at heavy discounts, or return home with their produce unsold,” he said.
The situation he noted poses serious risks to the cocoa industry and the national economy.
He also accused the government and COCOBOD of failing in their responsibility to reimburse the LBCs, many of which borrowed from banks and off-taker traders to pre-finance cocoa purchases.
Meanwhile, he has refuted claims by COCOBOD that enough funds had been released to support cocoa buying.
“The reality is that farmers have not been paid for cocoa sold to the Mahama-led NDC government since November last year,” he added.
The Minority Caucus is demanding immediate payment to cocoa farmers for all cocoa beans sold and reimbursement of LBCs for outstanding deliveries. They also called for an apology from the government and COCOBOD, stressing that prompt payment is a duty.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana