The Ghana Cocoa Board has released GH¢2.6 billion to Licensed Buying Companies for payment to cocoa farmers across all cocoa-growing regions in the country. COCOBOD announced the disbursement in a press statement, addressed to all media houses and issued by its Public Affairs Department.
The release described the amount in full as two billion, six hundred million Ghana cedis, directed toward settling payments owed to farmers for cocoa purchases made throughout the season.
The move signals a significant step by the Board to address mounting concerns among farmers who had been waiting on payments from their cocoa sales.
Season Payments Reach Over GH¢34 Billion
According to the statement, COCOBOD has paid a cumulative total of GH¢34,523,447,255.64 to Licensed Buying Companies for onward payment to farmers since the beginning of the 2025/26 crop season.
That figure places the latest GH¢2.6 billion release within a much larger pattern of disbursement that has continued throughout the season.
Of the amount released, COCOBOD said approximately GH¢1.4 billion has been specifically earmarked to clear the remaining balance that Licensed Buying Companies owe cocoa farmers for cocoa taken on credit.
This distinction matters because it targets outstanding debt rather than new purchases, addressing a backlog that had accumulated as buying companies extended credit arrangements to farmers ahead of full payment.
Monitoring Mechanisms Put in Place
COCOBOD stated that it is working closely with the Licensed Buying Companies to ensure that all affected farmers receive their payments.
The Board said it has instituted monitoring mechanisms to track whether the released funds actually reach the farmers who are owed money, a measure aimed at preventing delays or diversion once the funds leave COCOBOD’s hands.
The statement also acknowledged the difficulty farmers have faced while awaiting payment.
COCOBOD said it recognizes the patience, resilience, and understanding demonstrated by cocoa farmers during this challenging period and wishes to assure all cocoa farmers that no farmer will be denied payment for cocoa legitimately sold through the approved cocoa purchasing system.
That assurance forms the central message of the release, positioning the fund disbursement as both a financial and a confidence building measure for the farming community.
Farmers Urged to Engage Buying Companies Directly
For farmers still awaiting outstanding payments, COCOBOD’s press release offered clear direction. The Board encouraged farmers with outstanding payments to engage the relevant Licensed Buying Company through which they sold their cocoa.
COCOBOD said it will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the full settlement of outstanding obligations, signaling that the process does not end with the release of funds but continues through active engagement between farmers and buying companies.
This instruction gives farmers a practical channel to pursue unresolved payments rather than waiting passively for funds to reach them, while placing responsibility on Licensed Buying Companies to complete the settlement process on the ground.
A Broader Commitment to Farmer Welfare
COCOBOD framed the fund release as part of a larger governmental and institutional commitment. The statement noted that the release of these funds underscores the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of cocoa farmers and preserving the integrity of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
It added that COCOBOD remains committed to protecting farmers’ interests and ensuring that they receive the full benefits of their hard work. The Board closed its statement with an expression of gratitude toward the farming community.
COCOBOD expressed its sincere appreciation to all cocoa farmers for their continued dedication and invaluable contribution to Ghana’s economy
The Board said it will continue to work with the Government of Ghana and industry stakeholders to strengthen the cocoa value chain, improve farmer welfare, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The GH¢2.6 billion release marks one of the more substantial single disbursements COCOBOD has made this season, and its emphasis on clearing credit based debt suggests an effort to resolve longstanding payment gaps rather than simply keeping pace with new purchases.
With over GH¢34.5 billion already paid out since the season began, attention now turns to how quickly Licensed Buying Companies distribute the newly released funds and whether COCOBOD’s monitoring mechanisms succeed in closing the gap between disbursement and actual payment to farmers on the ground.
For cocoa farmers still waiting, the Board’s message remains direct: “Engage the buying company, and expect settlement to follow”.
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