The Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA) has petitioned the Ghana Cocoa Board (COBOD) over persistent payment delays and inefficiencies in the cocoa purchasing system, warning that farmers may turn to foreign and neighbouring country buyers if the issues persist.
In the petition dated May 11, 2026, and signed by National President Stephenson Anane Boateng, GNACOFA said smallholder farmers across the country are facing undue hardship due to delays in payment for cocoa delivered to purchasing clerks authorised by COCOBOD.
The association said despite repeated concerns raised, there has been no meaningful effort to address the critical challenges affecting farmers’ livelihoods.
GNACOFA noted that under existing laws, farmers are restricted from selling cocoa to anyone other than the Government of Ghana through COCOBOD and its licensed buying companies. This arrangement, it said, places a binding obligation on the government to ensure prompt and full payment upon delivery.
“Farmers entered into this arrangement in good faith, and it is expected that the government fulfils its contractual responsibilities,” the petition stated.
The group called on the government to be transparent with the public if it is no longer able to sustainably continue the purchase of cocoa from farmers under the current framework.
It urged immediate action to address the concerns and restore confidence in Ghana’s cocoa sector, warning that failure to resolve the issues would compel farmers to explore alternative markets, including foreign and neighbouring country buyers.
“We respectfully urge immediate action to address these concerns and restore confidence in Ghana’s cocoa sector,” the petition concluded.
GNACOFA said the situation was severely impacting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers nationwide.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
