Protecting the backbone of our nation: Why GH¢4 billion COCOBOD arrears threaten the heart of Ahafo Ano South West

September 16, 2026 Published by:Isaac Amoah

As the Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South West, my voice in the Legislature is fundamentally anchored in the fertile soil of our cocoa communities. From Mankranso to Mpasaso, Kunsu to Wioso, and across our rural heartlands, cocoa is the very lifeblood of our local economy. When the cocoa sector flourishes, our families thrive our local businesses stay open, parents meet educational expenses, and our rural markets buzz with economic activity. Conversely, when financial bottlenecks occur at the national administrative level, the hardship lands squarely on the doorsteps of my constituents.

Mr.Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah, MP Ahafo Ano South West

The recent confirmation that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) owes Licensed Cocoa Buying Companies (LBCs) nearly GH¢4 billion in outstanding payments for last season’s crop is not just a corporate balance-sheet issue. It is a serious liquidity challenge for our local economy. LBCs serve as the essential operational bridge between the state regulatory apparatus and individual farming households. Depriving these buying entities of timely capital forces many to service high-interest commercial loans while waiting for reimbursements, crippling their operational capacity right at the village level.

While COCOBOD has noted that post-season reconciliations are routine and that direct farmer payouts were prioritized, the reality on the ground remains concerning. As the new crop season opens, buying companies saddled with debt cannot easily secure fresh lines of operational credit from commercial banks. Without continuous revolving cash at local purchasing sheds across Ahafo Ano South West, buying operations slow down. When formal buyers lack cash on delivery, hard-working farmers facing urgent family needs are left in a precarious situation, which ultimately heightens the risk of cross-border smuggling and threatens national output.

As representatives of agrarian constituencies, our call is straightforward: COCOBOD and the Ministry of Finance must expedite engagements with the Chamber of Cocoa Marketers to publish a clear, binding disbursement schedule. Clearing these outstanding balances to LBCs is critical to unlocking liquidity ahead of the new season.

The hard-working cocoa farmers of Ahafo Ano South West continue to fulfil their obligation by producing Ghana’s finest golden pod. It is our solemn constitutional duty in Parliament to ensure that the institutional framework supporting them remains transparent, accountable, and prompt.