Cocoa farmers accuse COCOBOD officials of private buying activities

Cocoa farmers accuse some officials of the Ghana Cocoa Board of engaging in private cocoa buying activities. They say these activities "undermine confidence in the sector" and distort fair competition.

The concerns were raised by the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA) during the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with the Produce Buying Company (PBC). The agreement aims to support the recovery of the cocoa purchasing firm and improve the welfare of cocoa farmers. GNACOFA President, Stephenson Anane Boateng, said persistent challenges including cocoa smuggling, illegal mining on cocoa farms and delays in payments to farmers continue to threaten the sustainability of Ghana's cocoa industry. According to the Association, the private buying operations are weakening transparency within the cocoa value chain and creating unfair conditions for legitimate market players and farmers. The Association stressed that "These issues continue to distort Ghana's cocoa business, disadvantage genuine cocoa farmers, and create opportunities for financial irregularities."

GNACOFA said its partnership with PBC is intended to restore trust in the cocoa business while helping reposition the company as a stronger and more dependable player within the sector. The Association noted that "This partnership marks a significant milestone towards ensuring the sustainability of Ghana's cocoa business while supporting the revival and restoration of PBC as a strong institution within the cocoa sector." The concerns come at a time when Ghana's cocoa sector is grappling with declining production levels, liquidity challenges and increasing pressure on Licensed Buying Companies, all of which continue to affect farmer incomes and operations across the industry.