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6 clusters · 9 sources · 71 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: BUSINESS

Ghana cocoa payments dispute escalates with farmer protests

Entities: Divine Katsakpa · Hohoe · Ghana Cocoa Board · Ghana · Oti Region

Overview

In May 2026 the Produce Buying Company secured a GH₵30 million facility backed by cocoa stocks, and the Bank of Ghana announced a US$1 billion domestic bond to fund the 2026/27 harvest. COCOBOD kept the producer price for the 2026 Light Crop Season unchanged in June and, in early July, disbursed an additional GH¢2.6 billion to licensed buying companies, bringing total season payouts to over GH¢34.5 billion and clearing GH¢1.4 billion of outstanding farmer balances.

By 7 July the board admitted it had missed its self‑imposed end‑June deadline, leaving about GH¢3.4 billion (57 % of the GH¢6 billion pledged) still unpaid to farmers and Licensed Buying Companies. Officials described the remainder as “insignificant” and pledged near‑complete settlement before month’s end, but the shortfall continued to strain LBCs that financed purchases on credit and threatened farmers’ ability to fund the next production cycle.

On 28 July scores of cocoa farmers from the Guan District in Ghana’s Oti Region besieged COCOBOD’s Hohoe office, demanding payment for beans delivered between November 2025 and February 2026. They reported receiving no proceeds, affecting school fees, medical expenses and household needs. Chief Farmer Divine Katsakpa challenged the government’s claim that the GH¢2.6 billion release had reached farmers, giving COCOBOD a three‑day ultimatum to clear arrears or face larger protests and possible occupation of the office. The protest underscores persistent payment delays and mounting pressure on COCOBOD to resolve the outstanding liabilities.

Timeline

  1. 10 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Oti Region Cocoa Farmers Protest COCOBOD Over Unpaid Payments

    Cocoa farmers in Ghana's Oti region besieged the COCOBOD office in Hohoe demanding overdue payments for beans delivered between November and February, citing severe hardship and issuing a three‑day ultimatum.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Ghana Cocoa Board misses June deadline, GH¢3.4bn cocoa arrears remain unpaid

    The Ghana Cocoa Board missed its June deadline, paying only GH¢2.6bn of the GH¢6bn owed to farmers and buying companies, leaving roughly GH¢3.4bn unpaid despite officials' promises.

  3. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Ghana Cocoa Board releases GH₵2.6 billion to settle farmers' outstanding payments

    COCOBOD has released GH₵2.6 billion, including GH₵1.4 billion to clear credit owed to Ghanaian cocoa farmers, bringing total season payouts to GH₵34.52 billion.

  4. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Ghana Cocoa Board disburses GH¢2.6bn to settle farmer payments, total season payouts exceed GH¢34.5bn

    COCOBOD has added GH¢2.6 bn for farmer payments, bringing total season payouts to over GH¢34.5 bn and targeting GH¢1.4 bn in overdue credit sales.

  5. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Ghana keeps cocoa price steady and rolls out sweeping sector reforms

    Ghana's COCOBOD keeps the 2026 cocoa producer price unchanged and launches reforms—including a price‑adjustment rule, domestic cocoa bond, and a 50% local‑processing mandate—to protect farmers and improve the’s

  6. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Ghana cocoa sector secures new financing to pay farmers and fund 2026/27 harvest

    Ghana's cocoa sector gains GH₵30 m for farmer payments and a US$1 bn bond plan for 2026/27 purchases.

Sources

ameyawdebrah.com · dailyguidenetwork.com · ghanaguardian.com · ghananewspage.com · manhattan.edu · modernghana · myjoyonline.com · thebftonline.com · theghanareport.com