President John Dramani Mahama has voiced his concerns regarding Ghana’s inability to secure sustainable funding for the cocoa industry, cautioning that this predicament has diminished the Ghana Cocoa Board’s (COCOBOD) historical capacity to obtain syndicated financing.
In a statement made on Wednesday, February 11, the President acknowledged the difficulties encountered in managing state-owned enterprises.
“Our management of state-owned enterprises has occasionally been inconsistent. Weak governance structures, political interference, and insufficient financial discipline have compromised institutions that were previously pillars of stability and trust.
“We have not succeeded in securing sustainable funding for cocoa, nor has COCOBOD been able to syndicate effectively. These observations are not intended to assign blame, but rather to serve as lessons in accountability,” he remarked.
In the meantime, cocoa farmers nationwide have threatened to protest due to the unpaid amounts owed by COCOBOD for cocoa beans delivered since November 2025. They report that months of payment delays have led to significant financial distress, hindering their ability to fulfill essential needs such as healthcare and educational expenses.
In light of this, the Cabinet is convening an emergency meeting to tackle the payment delays and the overarching financial challenges within the cocoa sector, as officials strive to implement measures that will avert further disruptions and protect the livelihoods of farmers.
