Ghana’s cocoa regulator, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), says it has paid all licensed buying companies for cocoa beans supplied, expressing surprise at complaints from farmers over delayed payments.
Cocoa farmers in several growing communities say they have been waiting since November 2025 to be paid for beans already delivered, warning that the delays are affecting their livelihoods and could undermine cocoa production if not resolved.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s Kuro Yi Mu Nsem, one farmer, K. Badu, said financial pressure is forcing some producers into desperate decisions.
He claimed that about 30 per cent of cocoa beans sold to purchasing clerks had not been paid for, adding that some farmers were being pushed to sell their farms to illegal gold miners.
COCOBOD’s Head of Public Affairs, Jerome Sam, acknowledged awareness of payment concerns but said the board does not buy cocoa directly from farmers.
He explained that funds for cocoa purchases are provided by international offtakers, with COCOBOD acting as an intermediary to transfer payments to Licensed Buying Companies.
Mr Sam said all LBCs that sold cocoa under COCOBOD contracts had received payment for beans supplied last year.
“We are surprised cocoa farmers are complaining about non-payment since all licensed buying companies that sold cocoa to offtakers with COCOBOD contracts received their payments,” he said.
He suggested that delays may involve LBCs without international offtakers, which rely on their own resources and may struggle to settle farmers promptly.
COCOBOD says it is engaging stakeholders to address the concerns and insists it remains committed to protecting farmers’ welfare and sustaining cocoa production.
Source: Adomonline.com
