The Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs has called on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to intensify public education and engagement with cocoa farmers and other industry stakeholders to improve understanding of challenges facing the sector and the measures being taken to address them.
The call was made during the Committee’s engagement with COCOBOD, led by the Committee’s chair, Godfred Seidu Jasaw (Dr.). The Committee stressed that clear, consistent and transparent communication was essential to restoring confidence among farmers, traders and other players in the cocoa value chain.
In its recommendations, the Committee urged COCOBOD to consider announcing a competitive new producer price for cocoa. According to the Committee, a revised price could help restore buyer confidence and attract traders who have withdrawn from the Ghanaian cocoa market.
The Committee also called for urgent reforms to the cocoa pricing system, including possible deregulation of the sector. It said any such reforms should be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to make cocoa trading more attractive and sustainable.
In addition, the Committee urged the fast-tracking of a new cocoa law that would provide a framework for a sustainable financing and pricing regime, as well as address other related issues affecting the sector.
Hon Jasaw further encouraged COCOBOD to be deliberate in expanding local processing of cocoa beans, noting that increased domestic processing would help create a guaranteed market for farmers’ produce and add value to Ghana’s cocoa industry.
The Committee commended COCOBOD for making payments to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) despite financial challenges between November 2025 and February 2026. According to the Committee, COCOBOD paid GHS5.48 billion in November, GHS6.45 billion in December, GHS5.33 billion in January and GHS0.62 million in February.
However, it urged the cocoa regulator to fast-track the settlement of outstanding payments owed to LBCs and to remain vigilant against reverse smuggling, warning that cocoa beans are currently relatively cheaper in some neighbouring countries.
The Committee said addressing these concerns would be critical to stabilising the cocoa sector and safeguarding the livelihoods of cocoa farmers across the country.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
