COCOBOD Pays GHS 237m to Cocoa Farmers for 50,000 Tonnes Amid Sector Liquidity Strain
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has paid GHS 237 million to cocoa farmers for 50,000 metric tonnes of cocoa, as concerns mount over delayed payments across the cocoa sector.
The payment was confirmed by the Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Jerome Kwaku Sam, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
“I’m happy to report COCOBOD has started payment of the 50,000 metric tonnes. An amount of GHS 237 million has been paid,” Mr Sam stated.
The development comes at a time when Ghana’s cocoa industry is grappling with liquidity challenges, with farmers in several cocoa-growing areas complaining of delayed payments spanning several months.
In response to pressures in the sector, the government has recently rolled out a series of reforms, including a reduction in the producer price for the remainder of the 2025/2026 cocoa crop season. Under the new pricing structure, the producer price has been adjusted to GHS 41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GHS 2,587 per bag.
Authorities have explained that the price adjustment is aimed at cushioning cocoa farmers against declining global cocoa prices and sustaining the long-term viability of the industry.
Meanwhile, COCOBOD has disclosed that it expects to save approximately GHS 5 million each month following salary reductions for its executive management and senior staff.
Under the new measures, executive management salaries have been cut by 20 per cent, while senior staff salaries have been reduced by 10 per cent. The cuts took immediate effect and will remain in force for the duration of the 2025/2026 crop year.
The salary adjustments were announced in a press release dated Monday, February 16, 2026, and form part of broader efforts to address liquidity constraints and stabilise operations within the cocoa sector.
Cocoa remains a key foreign exchange earner for Ghana, and policymakers say the ongoing reforms are critical to restoring financial stability and confidence across the value chain.
