PBC Reopens Cocoa Buying Centres Nationwide After Financial Distress; Reaffirms Buyer-of-Last-Resort Role
Produce Buying Company (PBC) has announced the reopening of its cocoa buying centres across the country, following a period of severe financial distress that led to near-collapse and the seizure of some of its properties.
The company says the resumption of operations is expected to restore confidence in Ghana’s cocoa buying and processing sector and reassure cocoa farmers of secure market access.
The announcement was made at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
Managing Director of PBC, Seidu Yonye, described the development as a critical turning point for the company and the wider cocoa industry.
“This marks a significant step in restoring confidence in Ghana’s cocoa sector and assuring our cherished farmers of secure, transparent, and timely payments,” Mr. Yonye stated.
He disclosed that, under a new operational directive, field staff have been deployed nationwide and instructed to remain at post, with all buying centres now fully operational. This, he noted, re-establishes PBC’s traditional role as the “buyer of last resort” within the cocoa value chain.
Mr. Yonye further assured cocoa farmers that recent government reforms aimed at strengthening the state-owned bulk cocoa purchasing company would cushion them in the long term.
“Your efforts remain the backbone of Ghana’s economy, and we are committed to supporting you through this period,” he said.
The reopening of PBC’s buying centres follows the government’s broader efforts to reform and empower the company amid persistent liquidity challenges in the cocoa sector.
As part of these reforms, PBC announced the introduction of a new receivables-based financing structure supported by a transparent payment system.
According to the company, the system will allow the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and partner banks to track fund drawdowns, utilisation, cocoa deliveries, entitlements, and arrears in real time.
PBC said the initiative is designed to boost lender confidence, improve oversight across the cocoa supply chain, and enable banking partners to provide financing for cocoa purchases with greater assurance.
The company expressed optimism that the reforms will stabilise its operations and strengthen its contribution to Ghana’s cocoa economy going forward.
