The hardworking cocoa farmers of Ghana, the backbone of one of the country's most important export crops, are facing tough times once again.

Despite a recent sharp drop in the producer price they receive for their beans, many are still waiting for payments that should have come months ago.

During a debate in Parliament on Thursday March 5, 2026, on President John Dramani Mahama's State of the Nation Address, Isaac Yaw Opoku, the Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs Committee and part of the Minority caucus, spoke out strongly about the frustration of some farmers.

“They are finding all manner of reasons as to why they cannot pay the cocoa farmer. They promised GH¢6,000, but it turned out to be 419. They increased the price from GH¢31,000 to GH¢36,000, but they didn’t pay. Now they have slashed it to GH¢2,587, and even that, they are not paying,” Opoku said.

He pointed out the heavy debt burden weighing on the system: the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) owes Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), the middlemen who purchase directly from farmers, more than GH¢11 billion.

“So, if you are paying GH¢1 million every month, it is going to take over one year for all the farmers to be paid,” he added.

This outcry follows the government's recent announcement that it had released GH¢855 million specifically to clear some of these outstanding payments to farmers.

Yet, according to the Minority, that money hasn't reached the people who need it most, the farmers themselves are still waiting.

Cocoa farmers, masses and investors left behind in Mahama’s February 2026 SONA

Cocoa is more than just a crop in Ghana; it's a lifeline for thousands of families in rural communities who pour their sweat, time, and resources into tending the trees year after year.

When payments drag on, it hits hard; families struggle to afford school fees, medical care, farm inputs for the next season, or even basic daily needs.

Here are the factors driving the decline in Ghana's cocoa purchases

With global cocoa prices fluctuating and local pressures like inflation adding to the strain, these delays make an already challenging life even harder.

The Minority is calling on the government to move quickly to settle what is owed, bring more openness to how cocoa revenues are handled, and rebuild confidence in the entire system.

They warn that if things continue this way, it risks eroding the trust that keeps farmers committed to growing this vital commodity for the nation.

NA/VPO

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