The Minority in Parliament has appealed to the government to urgently settle an outstanding GH¢10 billion owed to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), warning that the delay has left cocoa farmers across the country facing severe financial pressure.
Speaking for the Caucus, Isaac Yaw Opoku, Ranking Member on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, said the government’s failure to release funds to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has disrupted the payment chain, preventing LBCs from paying farmers for cocoa delivered months ago.
Mr Opoku, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Offinso South on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket, claimed that leadership disputes within COCOBOD have worsened the situation. He alleged that tensions between the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD and the Managing Director of the Cocoa Marketing Board have delayed key decisions, with political influence compounding governance challenges within the sector.
He disclosed that many cocoa farmers have not received payment since November, a situation he said has made it difficult for families to afford food, healthcare, and other basic necessities.
The Minority further criticised the government for failing to fulfil its commitment on cocoa pricing. According to the Caucus, a promised producer price of GH¢6,000 per bag was later revised downward to GH¢3,625, yet even this adjusted figure has not been paid consistently.
Mr Opoku described the development as misleading and accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of abandoning key pledges made to cocoa farmers while in opposition.
The Caucus called on the government to take immediate steps to resolve the payment bottlenecks, cautioning that prolonged delays could destabilise cocoa-producing communities. It reiterated that cocoa remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy and should not be compromised by administrative delays or political disagreements.
