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President John Dramani Mahama is convening an emergency cabinet meeting today, February 11, to address the deepening crises confronting Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The meeting was announced by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The move comes amid mounting concerns over delayed payments to cocoa farmers and growing financial strain within the sector, which remains a critical pillar of Ghana’s economy.
The Minority in Parliament has repeatedly raised alarm over the situation, urging the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to take swift and decisive action to stabilise the industry.
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, criticised both the government and COCOBOD for failing to reimburse Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs). According to him, the delays have left many farmers unpaid for several months.
He disclosed that funds owed to LBCs companies that purchase cocoa beans on behalf of COCOBOD now exceed GH¢10 billion, significantly constraining their ability to pay farmers and threatening the sustainability of cocoa purchasing operations nationwide.
The prolonged payment delays have sparked widespread frustration among cocoa farmers, with some demanding the immediate settlement of arrears. Many farmers have also expressed dissatisfaction with assurances from COCOBOD, urging the board to move beyond promises and deliver prompt payments.
In response to the growing concerns, COCOBOD has indicated that it has commenced payments to LBCs to facilitate the clearance of outstanding obligations to farmers. The board further noted that it is exploring new financing arrangements aimed at ensuring long-term stability within the cocoa value chain.
The emergency cabinet meeting is expected to deliberate on immediate and medium-term government interventions to address liquidity challenges and restore confidence in Ghana’s cocoa industry.