Gov’t Announces Reforms to Boost Cocoa Processing and Farmer Payments
The government has unveiled plans to implement major reforms in Ghana’s cocoa sector, targeting persistent payment delays to farmers and pushing for increased local processing of cocoa beans.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson made the announcement during a meeting with cocoa processors ahead of a press briefing on Thursday, February 12, 2026. He acknowledged the historic role cocoa has played in sustaining Ghana’s economy through job creation and foreign exchange earnings but admitted the sector is currently facing serious challenges that demand structural changes.
Dr Forson explained that the upcoming reforms are intended to reset and strengthen the industry, making it more resilient and focused on value creation. He expressed confidence that the new measures would address inefficiencies, restore confidence among stakeholders, and ensure farmers receive their payments promptly.
Central to the reform agenda is the expansion of local value addition. The Finance Minister stressed the need to assess and improve Ghana’s cocoa processing capacity to reduce overreliance on exporting raw beans. According to him, refining more cocoa locally will increase revenue, create sustainable jobs, and deliver better returns to farmers.
Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, supported the initiative, noting that deepening value addition along the cocoa value chain would strengthen industrial development and contribute to stabilising the local currency.
Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Randy Abbey also advocated for a strategic shift away from decades of dependence on raw cocoa exports. He said the new direction would prioritise value addition, job creation, and fair compensation for cocoa farmers.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods through the cocoa industry. The government believes the planned reforms will help secure the sector’s long-term sustainability while ensuring farmers are paid fairly and on time.
