COCOBOD Disburses GHS 854m to LBCs, Total Payments Hit GHS 1.09bn Amid Cocoa Sector Strain
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has made an additional GH¢854 million payment to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), bringing total disbursements to GH¢1.091 billion, as the cocoa sector grapples with liquidity pressures and farmer payment delays.
The development was announced by the Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Jerome Kwaku Sam, in a Facebook post on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
“COCOBOD this morning, 19th Feb, 2026 has made payment of GH¢854m totalling GH¢1.091bn to LBCs,” Mr Sam wrote.
The latest payment follows an earlier GH¢237 million disbursement made for 50,000 metric tonnes of cocoa, as COCOBOD moves to ease cash flow constraints within the cocoa purchasing chain.
The payments come at a time when Ghana’s cocoa sector is under strain, with several farmers reporting delays in receiving payments for cocoa delivered over the past few months, heightening concerns about liquidity and confidence in the sector.
In response to the broader challenges, the government has rolled out a series of reforms, including an adjustment to the producer price of cocoa for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The revised price has been set at GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag. Authorities say the measure is aimed at cushioning farmers against declining global cocoa prices while ensuring the sustainability of the industry.
Meanwhile, COCOBOD has also announced internal cost-cutting measures to address its liquidity challenges. The Board estimates it could save about GH¢5 million each month following salary reductions for its executive management and senior staff.
Under the arrangement, executives are taking a 20 per cent pay cut, while senior staff will have 10 per cent deducted from their salaries. The reductions, which took effect immediately, will remain in force for the rest of the 2025/2026 crop year.
In a press release issued on Monday, February 16, 2026, COCOBOD said the measures form part of a broader strategy to stabilise the cocoa sector, improve cash flow management and restore confidence across the cocoa value chain.
