The Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA), representing smallholder cocoa farmers across the country, has formally petitioned the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) over persistent payment delays and cocoa purchasing challenges, warning that farmers may be forced to seek alternative markets, including foreign buyers, if the situation remains unresolved.
In the petition dated May 2026, GNACOFA stated that despite repeated concerns raised with authorities, there has been “no meaningful effort” to resolve critical issues that are severely impacting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers nationwide.
The association described how farmers are enduring undue hardship due to inefficiencies within the cocoa purchasing system, including delays in payment for beans already delivered to purchasing clerks authorized by COCOBOD.
“Farmers are facing undue hardship due to delays in payment and inefficiencies within the cocoa purchasing system,” the petition read. GNACOFA called on the government to be transparent with the public if it is no longer able to sustainably continue the purchase of cocoa from farmers under the current framework.
Under existing constitutional and regulatory arrangements, Ghanaian cocoa farmers are restricted from selling their produce to any buyer other than the Government of Ghana, acting through COCOBOD and its licensed buying companies.
However, GNACOFA emphasized that correspondingly, the government has a binding obligation to ensure farmers receive prompt and full payment upon delivery of cocoa beans.
“Farmers entered into this arrangement in good faith, and it is expected that the Government fulfils its contractual responsibilities. Failure to do so constitutes a breach of trust and agreement,” the association stated.
In its strongest warning yet, GNACOFA declared that should the conditions persist without resolution, farmers will be compelled to explore alternative markets, including foreign and neighbouring country buyers, “at our convenience, in order to alleviate the growing economic hardship we face.”
Such a move would mark a radical departure from Ghana’s decades-old centralized cocoa marketing system, which has historically given the government exclusive control over cocoa purchases.
The association respectfully urged immediate action to address the concerns and restore confidence in Ghana’s cocoa sector.
“We respectfully urge immediate action to address these concerns and restore confidence in Ghana’s cocoa sector,” the petition concluded, adding the blessings, “God bless Ghana, God bless GNACOFA.”
Story by Linda Asare
Source:
opemsuo.com