President John Dramani Mahama is set to convene an emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to address escalating challenges confronting Ghana’s cocoa sector, Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stated that the urgent meeting will focus on resolving critical issues threatening the stability and sustainability of the country’s cocoa industry.
The planned emergency session comes at a time when the cocoa sector is grappling with severe financial constraints that have delayed payments to farmers and other stakeholders across the value chain. The situation has heightened concerns among industry players about the long-term viability of the sector.
Industry observers have warned that prolonged liquidity challenges, coupled with delays in payments to cocoa farmers and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), could significantly destabilise the industry if immediate and decisive measures are not implemented.
The Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana (LICOBAG) has cautioned that the government must secure emergency funding to facilitate the purchase of approximately 300,000 tonnes of cocoa beans by September 2026, warning that failure to do so could lead to a potential collapse in cocoa trading operations.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the state agency responsible for cocoa pricing, purchasing, and export, has acknowledged the funding shortfall. The Board is reportedly collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to explore alternative financing arrangements, including the possible abandonment of the long-standing syndicated loan model that has traditionally supported cocoa purchases.
Cocoa farmers have also expressed concerns about producer prices for the 2025/2026 crop season, arguing that current rates fall below expectations and could encourage cocoa smuggling while negatively impacting farmer livelihoods.
The upcoming Cabinet meeting is expected to bring together key ministers, sector experts, and senior government officials to deliberate on urgent interventions. Discussions are likely to focus on ensuring prompt payments to farmers, securing sustainable financing for cocoa purchases, and restoring confidence in Ghana’s cocoa value chain.
