President Mahama Calls Emergency Cabinet Meeting to Tackle Cocoa Payment Crisis
President Mahama convenes urgent cabinet meeting as delayed payments leave cocoa farmers nationwide frustrated and sector finances under strain
- President Mahama has called an emergency cabinet meeting on February 11, 2026, to address the worsening cocoa sector crisis
- Delayed reimbursements to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) have left farmers unpaid for months, with outstanding funds exceeding GH¢10 billion
- COCOBOD has begun releasing payments to LBCs and is exploring new financing arrangements to ensure long-term stability in the cocoa value chain
President John Dramani Mahama has convened an urgent cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to address the escalating crisis in Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The announcement was made by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, via a Facebook post on Tuesday, February 10.
The emergency meeting comes amid growing concerns over delayed payments to cocoa farmers and financial stress affecting the sector. The parliamentary Minority has repeatedly warned of the urgency, urging the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to stabilise the industry.
Isaac Yaw Opoku, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, criticised the government and COCOBOD for failing to reimburse Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs). The delays, he said, have left many farmers unpaid for months. Funds owed to LBCs now reportedly exceed GH¢10 billion, limiting their ability to pay farmers and threatening cocoa purchasing operations.
The payment delays have triggered frustration among cocoa farmers, who are calling for immediate settlement of arrears. Many have expressed dissatisfaction with repeated assurances from COCOBOD, demanding concrete action rather than promises.
In response, COCOBOD confirmed it has begun releasing funds to LBCs to enable payment of outstanding obligations and is exploring new financing arrangements for long-term sector stability.
The emergency cabinet meeting is expected to focus on government interventions to address liquidity challenges across the cocoa value chain.
