COCOBOD Disburses GH¢237 Million to Cocoa Farmers Amid Sector Challenges
The Ghana Cocoa Board confirms the release of GH¢237 million to farmers, as spokesperson Jerome Kwaku Sam outlines payment progress and new cost-cutting measures to address sector liquidity challenges.
- Jerome Kwaku Sam announced that GH¢237 million has been paid to cocoa farmers
- The Ghana Cocoa Board began the disbursement amid ongoing reforms, including a reduction in the producer price for the 2025/2026 crop season
- COCOBOD has also introduced salary cuts for executives and senior staff
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has paid GH¢237 million to cocoa farmers for the purchase of 50,000 metric tonnes of cocoa, according to the Board’s Head of Public Affairs, Jerome Kwaku Sam.
The payment comes at a time when Ghana’s cocoa sector is facing mounting pressure, with many farmers previously raising concerns over delayed payments spanning several months.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, February 18, Mr. Sam confirmed the development, stating that COCOBOD had begun settling payments for the cocoa purchased. He noted that the GH¢237 million disbursed covers the 50,000 metric tonnes delivered by farmers.
The disbursement follows recent government reforms in the cocoa sector, including a reduction in the producer price for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The farmgate price has been adjusted to GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag, a move authorities say is intended to cushion farmers against declining global cocoa prices.
Meanwhile, COCOBOD has also introduced internal cost-saving measures to address liquidity challenges within the sector. The Board announced salary reductions for executive management and senior staff—20 percent for top executives and 10 percent for senior staff—effective immediately and to remain in place for the rest of the 2025/2026 crop year.
According to a press release issued on Monday, February 16, 2026, the salary adjustments are expected to save the Board approximately GH¢5 million each month as part of broader efforts to stabilise the cocoa industry’s finances.
