Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western North Region has accused the government of neglecting the cocoa sector, warning that the situation risks undermining one of the country’s most important industries.
In a statement issued on 11 January 2026 and signed by the party’s Regional Communications Officer, Addo Harry, the NPP said the government’s increased focus on gold trading through the GoldBod initiative was diverting attention and resources away from cocoa, traditionally Ghana’s leading foreign exchange earner.
The party claimed that while significant financial commitments have been made to support GoldBod, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been left underfunded, limiting its operational capacity.
According to the statement, licensed buying companies (LBCs) have, since November 2025, struggled to secure sufficient funds to purchase cocoa directly from farmers. As a result, many farmers are said to be holding large quantities of bagged cocoa without buyers, forcing them to store their produce for prolonged periods.
The NPP also raised concerns about what it described as an unprecedented shortage of cocoa jute sacks nationwide. It said buying companies have been unable to access approved sacks, compelling farmers and LBCs to resort to fertiliser sacks, a practice the party warned could compromise cocoa quality and breach international standards.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, the NPP called on the government and COCOBOD to urgently release funds to licensed buying companies and ensure the immediate supply of jute sacks to support cocoa purchases across the country.
The party cautioned that continued challenges in the sector could encourage cocoa smuggling to neighbouring countries, worsen poverty among cocoa farmers and fuel the sale or leasing of cocoa farms to illegal miners.
“Cocoa farmers need timely payment for their produce, and buying companies require adequate funding and logistics to function effectively,” the statement said, urging authorities to take swift action to stabilise the sector.
