The Mahama administration has moved to settle long-overdue payments to cocoa farmers, releasing funds through the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to clear arrears accumulated since late 2025.
COCOBOD disbursed approximately GH¢4.2 billion to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to cover outstanding payments for cocoa delivered from November 2025 onwards. The move is part of a broader push to rebuild trust in the cocoa sector and ease liquidity pressures within the purchasing system.
The delays stemmed from financial difficulties in the sector, particularly struggles to secure the syndicated loans that typically fund cocoa purchases. Some LBCs had stepped in with their own capital to buy cocoa from farmers, operating on the expectation that COCOBOD would later reimburse them.
The release has not been without scrutiny, however. Parliament’s Minority raised concerns that an earlier disbursement of GH¢855 million had failed to reach farmers, and called for greater transparency in how the funds are being managed.
COCOBOD Past Chiefs Under Investigation — What We Know So Far
Officials maintain that now the money has been passed to the buying companies, payments should filter through to farmers in due course, with the government targeting full clearance of arrears before the current 2025/2026 cocoa season draws to a close.