Mahama Calls Emergency Cabinet Meeting to Resolve Cocoa Sector Crisis
Meeting aims to resolve delayed payments to cocoa farmers and implement measures to stabilise Ghana’s $10 billion cocoa industry
- President Mahama convenes an emergency cabinet meeting to address the worsening cocoa sector crisis
- Delayed payments to cocoa farmers and owed funds exceeding GH¢10 billion to Licensed Buying Companies have sparked nationwide concern
- COCOBOD has begun releasing funds and exploring new financing arrangements
President John Dramani Mahama is convening an urgent cabinet meeting today, February 11, 2026, to tackle the escalating crises in Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The announcement was made by Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, February 10.
The meeting comes amid growing concerns over delayed payments to cocoa farmers and broader financial strains affecting the industry.
The Parliamentary Minority has repeatedly raised alarms, urging both the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to take swift action to stabilise the sector.
Isaac Yaw Opoku, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, criticised the government and COCOBOD for failing to reimburse Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), leaving many farmers unpaid for several months. He noted that funds owed to LBCs now exceed GH¢10 billion, severely limiting their ability to pay farmers and threatening the viability of cocoa purchasing operations.
The delays have sparked frustration among farmers nationwide, who are demanding immediate settlement of arrears. Many have expressed dissatisfaction with COCOBOD’s assurances, urging the board to move beyond promises and make payments without further delay.
COCOBOD has stated that it has begun releasing funds to LBCs to enable them to clear outstanding obligations to farmers and is exploring new financing arrangements to ensure long-term stability.
The emergency cabinet meeting is expected to focus on government interventions to address liquidity challenges in the cocoa value chain and restore confidence in Ghana’s cocoa industry.
