Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced a cabinet directive to begin payments in the cocoa sector as part of a comprehensive reform programme focused on settling outstanding financial arrears owed to farmers.
The directive follows a thorough review of the sector’s operations, particularly the challenges surrounding financial constraints affecting the management of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and its stakeholders.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ato Forson indicated that cabinet is committed to transforming the cocoa sector to ensure fair prices to cocoa farmers, in line with immediate relief for unpaid farmers, to ensure sustainability in the cocoa industry.
“To bring relief to the unpaid cocoa farmers, cabinet has accordingly directed the Ghana Cocoa Board to commence immediate payment of all affected cocoa farmers,” he said.
Speaking on the reforms, Dr. Ato Forson emphasized that the new Cocoa Board Bill will ensure automatic adjustment of cocoa prices based on world market trends and guarantee farmers a minimum percentage of the gross Free on Board (FOB) price.
“The new Cocoa Board Bill will be presented to Parliament to implement the automatic adjustment of the producer price to align with movements in the world market price, exchange rate, and to guarantee a minimum of 70% of the gross FOB price to be paid to the cocoa farmer,” the Minister mentioned.
Source: Ernest Kelvin Okanta
