Cocoa farmers across parts of the country are raising alarm over delays in payment for their produce, with some saying they have not been paid for beans sold as far back as November 2025 — a situation they warn could threaten cocoa production if not urgently resolved.

Speaking on Nhyria FM’s Kro Yi Mu Nsem with Barima Kofi Dawson, cocoa farmer K. Badu described the situation as dire, noting that many farmers are struggling to survive due to the unpaid beans.

“Approximately 30% of cocoa beans sold to purchasing clerks have not been paid for, forcing many farmers to sell their farms to illegal gold miners because of financial hardship,” he said.

According to him, the prolonged delay is pushing farmers into desperate choices, including abandoning cocoa farming altogether. He warned that if the issue persists, it could lead to a decline in cocoa production, further affecting an industry that remains a major foreign exchange earner for Ghana.

“It’s a desperate situation, and something needs to be done quickly,” the farmer added.

However, COCOBOD’s Head of Public Affairs, Jerome Sam, expressed surprise at the farmers’ complaints when he addressed the matter on the same programme.

Mr Sam said COCOBOD is aware of the concerns but clarified that the Board does not buy cocoa beans directly from farmers. Instead, he explained that international offtakers provide funding for cocoa purchases, which COCOBOD then channels to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs).

“We are surprised cocoa farmers have been complaining about non-payment since last year. All Licensed Buying Companies that sold cocoa to offtakers under COCOBOD contracts received their payments,” he stated.

He noted that some LBCs do not have international offtakers and therefore rely on their own resources to purchase cocoa beans, a situation he believes may be responsible for the delays being experienced by some farmers.

Mr Sam assured farmers that COCOBOD is engaging the relevant stakeholders to resolve the issue, stressing that the welfare of cocoa farmers remains a top priority for the Board.