The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku, has criticised government delays in payments to cocoa farmers, describing the situation as troubling despite the recent downward adjustment in the producer price of cocoa.

Contributing to the debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address presented by John Dramani Mahama in Parliament, Mr. Opoku questioned why farmers continue to experience payment challenges even after the reduction in the farm-gate price.

He further disclosed that the Ghana Cocoa Board currently owes Licensed Buying Companies more than GH₵11 billion, a development he says is worsening liquidity pressures within the cocoa purchasing chain.

His comments follow the government’s announcement that GH₵855 million had been released to clear outstanding payments owed to cocoa farmers. However, the Minority insists that many farmers across the country are yet to receive the funds.

He is therefore calling on government to fast-track the disbursement of the funds and ensure openness in the management of cocoa revenues. According to them, prolonged payment delays could erode confidence in the operations of COCOBOD and destabilise the country’s cocoa sector.