The United Kingdom branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP UK) has expressed concern over delays in payments to cocoa farmers across Ghana, describing the situation as a growing crisis that threatens rural livelihoods and the stability of the country’s cocoa sector.
In a statement issued on February 11, 2026, the party indicated that reports from several cocoa-producing regions suggest a number of farmers have not received payment for cocoa deliveries made as far back as November 2025. The group noted that the alleged delays have caused economic hardship for farming households and raised concerns about future cocoa production.
According to the statement, although the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced that some payments were made between late 2025 and early 2026, farmers and other observers continue to report outstanding balances.
NPP UK attributed the payment challenges partly to structural financing difficulties that emerged during the 2024/2025 crop season. The party claimed that the collapse of the traditional syndicated loan arrangement, which had historically been used to pre-finance cocoa purchases, has weakened COCOBOD’s cash flow and its ability to meet payment obligations to farmers.
The statement also drew attention to reports that COCOBOD procured several vehicles, including Toyota Land Cruisers and more than 100 pickup trucks, during the period when farmers were allegedly experiencing payment delays. NPP UK argued that the reported purchases have sparked public debate over government spending priorities.
The party further referenced past commitments made to cocoa farmers to improve farmgate prices, suggesting that current payment challenges have contributed to frustration among farmers and raised questions about the fulfillment of those promises.
As part of its recommendations, NPP UK called for the resignation of COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ransford Abbey, citing what it described as institutional mismanagement. The group also demanded an independent audit into COCOBOD’s financing and procurement activities, full disclosure of cocoa payment records, and increased parliamentary oversight of the cocoa sector.
The statement emphasized the importance of the cocoa industry to Ghana’s economy and urged authorities to take immediate steps to address farmer concerns, restore confidence in the sector, and safeguard future cocoa production.
Cocoa remains one of Ghana’s leading export commodities and a major source of income for thousands of farming households across the country.
