The Minority in Parliament has served notice that it is prepared to take steps to compel the Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, to appear before the House over mounting concerns about delayed payments to cocoa farmers.

Raising the matter on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin described the situation as urgent, noting that many farmers are yet to receive full payment for cocoa beans supplied during the 2024/2025 planting season.

“This is a House of Parliament, a platform of the people’s representatives. This is where we discuss national issues. The cocoa farmers in Volta, Ashanti, Bono, and Western North regions have been denied their dues,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

He warned that the Minority would not hesitate to invoke parliamentary procedures if the Minister fails to appear voluntarily.

“If the Majority Leader will not bring the Finance Minister, we, the Minority, will use the appropriate laws available to us to summon the Finance Minister.”

Beyond the political exchanges, the issue has real-life consequences for thousands of cocoa farmers and their families.

In cocoa-growing communities across Volta, Ashanti, Bono, and Western North, farmers depend heavily on timely payments to prepare their farms for the next season.

The money is used to clear land, purchase fertilisers and other inputs, repay loans, and meet household needs, including school fees and medical bills.

For many rural households, a delay in payment is not just an inconvenience; it can stall the entire farming cycle.

Local transport operators, input dealers, and small businesses that rely on the cocoa economy also feel the strain when farmers are not paid on time.

The Minority insists the matter goes beyond party politics, arguing that it is a national economic concern that affects one of Ghana’s key export sectors.

They are demanding that the finance minister personally brief Parliament on the reasons behind the delays, disclose any funding gaps within the cocoa sector, and outline clear measures to stabilise the industry.

Meanwhile, frustration continues to build in cocoa-growing communities, with farmers calling on the government to expedite payments and ensure they receive what is rightfully theirs without further delay.

NA/AM

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