COCOBOD Disburses GH¢237m to Farmers as Sector Reforms Deepen
The Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Jerome Kwaku Sam, has confirmed that the board has released GH¢237 million to cocoa farmers for the purchase of 50,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans.
Mr. Sam made the announcement in a Facebook post on Wednesday, February 18, describing the development as a significant step toward addressing concerns over delayed payments in the sector. “I’m happy to report COCOBOD has started payment of the 50,000 metric tonnes. An amount of GH¢237 million has been paid,” he stated.
The payment comes at a critical time for Ghana’s cocoa industry, which has been grappling with liquidity constraints and mounting complaints from farmers over outstanding arrears. For months, producers across major cocoa-growing regions have raised concerns about the financial strain caused by delayed compensation for supplied beans.
In response to the ongoing challenges, government has rolled out a series of measures aimed at stabilising the sector. Among them is a downward review of the producer price for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The new rate has been set at GH¢41,392 per metric tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag.
Officials say the adjustment is intended to shield farmers from the impact of declining global cocoa prices while ensuring some level of sustainability within the industry.
Meanwhile, COCOBOD has also introduced internal cost-cutting measures to manage its financial pressures. In a press statement issued on Monday, February 16, 2026, the board announced salary reductions for its executive management and senior staff. Executive management will take a 20 percent pay cut, while senior staff will face a 10 percent reduction.
The pay cuts take immediate effect and will remain in force for the rest of the 2025/2026 crop year. According to COCOBOD, the move is expected to generate savings of about GH¢5 million each month as part of broader efforts to ease liquidity challenges in the cocoa sector.
