Two cocoa PCs arrested for allegedly short-changing farmers

Two cocoa Purchasing Clerks (PCs) were arrested for allegedly short-changing cocoa farmers in the Dormaa Municipality of the Bono Region. The suspects, Robert Owusu, 63 years old, and Kumi Acheaw, 45 years old, are PCs for the Yonkopa Company Limited and allegedly bought beans from farmers at prices below the approved producer price.

Mr. Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, explained that the suspects were picked up by police intelligence. He said buying cocoa beans below the producer price was detrimental to farmers and the cocoa sector, and could also undermine confidence in the government. Mr. Akwaboa said that the government had made adequate funds to ensure that farmers were paid approved prices, saying that: "The actions of the suspects often create the false impression that the government is indebted to farmers, when in fact the problem lies with non-compliant PCs". He added, "Some of the PCs are not doing the right thing. When the funds are released, they fail to pay the farmers accordingly".

Investigations are ongoing to prosecute them. The security services have intensified monitoring to identify and apprehend other offenders. Mr. Akwaboa called on stakeholders in the cocoa value chain to "act patriotically and uphold integrity in their dealings", saying that: "We are building a country together, and let us be patriotic and ensure fairness to our farmers". Joseph Agyemang, a cocoa farmer at Dormaa-Kokroasua, said that he sold some beans on January 18 and February 2, 2026, and the PCs paid him the new producer price.