Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
The Cabinet has instructed the Office of the Attorney General to audit the activities of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) over the past eight years.
The decision follows an emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, convened to address Ghana’s cocoa crisis amid growing concerns from farmer groups, industry stakeholders, and the Minority in Parliament over delayed payments, largely attributed to financial challenges facing cocoa farmers.
Speaking at a press briefing on February 12, 2026, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced that Cabinet has directed the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Akurintinga Ayine, to investigate and uncover the root causes of COCOBOD’s crippling GH¢32.9 billion debt.
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Dr Ato Forson explained that the decision is part of broader efforts to restore transparency and accountability in the management of the cocoa sector.
“To ensure accountability and transparency in the management of COCOBOD and the cocoa sector as a whole, Cabinet has also directed the Attorney General to commission concurrent forensic and criminal investigations into COCOBOD’s activities over the last eight years,” he said.
According to Dr Ato Forson, the investigations are expected to run alongside broader structural reforms aimed at restoring COCOBOD’s financial records and safeguarding the livelihoods of Ghanaian cocoa farmers.
The government has also announced key reforms aimed at strengthening the cocoa sector, improving farmer livelihoods, and bolstering COCOBOD’s balance sheet.
Cabinet directs AG to audit COCOBOD for the past 8 years – Ato Forson
SP/MA
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
