President John Dramani Mahama has convened an emergency Cabinet meeting for Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to address the deepening crisis in 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 decision follows growing concerns over prolonged delays in payments to cocoa farmers and increasing financial strain across the cocoa value chain.
The Minority in Parliament has repeatedly raised alarm over the situation, calling on the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to take urgent steps to stabilise the sector.
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, has criticised both the government and COCOBOD for failing to reimburse Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs).
According to him, the delays have resulted in farmers going unpaid for several months.
He disclosed that outstanding funds owed to LBCs who purchase cocoa beans on behalf of COCOBOD have exceeded GH¢10 billion, severely limiting their capacity to pay farmers and threatening the sustainability of cocoa purchasing operations nationwide.
The payment backlog has fuelled frustration among cocoa farmers, with many demanding the immediate settlement of arrears. Some farmers have also expressed disappointment with COCOBOD’s assurances, urging the board to move beyond promises and expedite payments.
In response, COCOBOD says it has begun releasing funds to LBCs to enable them to meet their obligations to farmers. The board has also indicated that it is exploring new financing arrangements to ensure long-term stability in the sector.
The emergency Cabinet meeting is expected to deliberate on government interventions aimed at resolving liquidity challenges and restoring confidence in Ghana’s cocoa industry.
