The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Hon. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, has called for reforms to Ghana’s cocoa pricing system.
The Committee noted that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, reforms to the cocoa pricing system, including possible deregulation, could make cocoa trading more attractive.
“This possible deregulation includes collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to make cocoa trading more attractive, and the fast-tracking of a new cocoa law to establish a create financing and pricing regime and related matters,” the committee outlined.
In a parliamentary meeting with officials from Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Food and Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs pointed out to Cocobod to deliberately develop an expanded local processing of cocoa beans to create a guaranteed market.
The committee commended Cocobod for making payment to the Licensed Buying Companies(LBCs) despite challenges from November 2025 to February
2026.
“Payments made were GHS 5.48 billion in November, GHS6.45 billion in December, GHS5.33 billion in January and GHS0.62 million in February,” the committee cited.
The Committee also urged COCOBOD to accelerate payments to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), while cautioning the Board to remain vigilant against reverse smuggling, noting that cocoa beans are comparatively cheaper in neighboring countries.
Source: Ernest Kelvin Okanta
