Mahama Convenes Emergency Cabinet Meeting Over Cocoa Sector Crisis
President John Dramani Mahama is set to hold an emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to address mounting challenges confronting Ghana’s cocoa sector, Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Kwakye Ofosu indicated that the urgent meeting will focus on resolving critical issues threatening the stability of the country’s cocoa industry.
The emergency session comes at a time when the cocoa sector is grappling with severe financing constraints that have delayed payments to farmers and other players across the value chain, raising concerns among stakeholders about the sustainability of the industry.
Industry watchers warn that prolonged liquidity challenges and delayed payments to cocoa farmers and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) could destabilise the sector if immediate measures are not implemented.
The Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana (LICOBAG) has cautioned that government must secure emergency funding to purchase an estimated 300,000 tonnes of cocoa beans by September 2026 to prevent a potential collapse in cocoa trading operations.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), which oversees cocoa pricing, purchasing and export, has acknowledged the existing funding shortfall. The Board is reportedly collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to explore alternative financing arrangements, including the possible abandonment of the long-standing syndicated loan model that traditionally supports cocoa purchases.
Cocoa farmers have also raised concerns about producer prices for the 2025/2026 crop season, arguing that current rates fall below expectations and could worsen cocoa smuggling while negatively affecting farmer livelihoods.
The upcoming Cabinet meeting is expected to bring together key ministers, sector experts and senior government officials to deliberate on urgent interventions. Discussions are likely to focus on ensuring prompt payments to farmers, securing sustainable financing for cocoa purchases and restoring confidence in Ghana’s cocoa value chain.
