Accra: Following a crucial Cabinet meeting on February 11, 2026, the Government of Ghana has directed the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to immediately commence repayments to cocoa farmers who have not received payments for the 2025/2026 crop season.
According to Ghana Web, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, stated that the decision is part of the government's efforts to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by farmers due to delayed payments in several regions of the country.
Speaking at a press briefing on February 12, 2026, Dr. Forson confirmed that the Cabinet has instructed COCOBOD to implement a structured repayment process to ensure all affected farmers receive their outstanding payments promptly. 'To bring relief to unpaid cocoa farmers, Cabinet has directed COCOBOD to begin repayment of all affected farmers across the country,' he stated.
The directive comes in response to growing concerns from farmer groups, industry stakeholders, and the Minority in Parliament regarding delayed payments, which have been primarily attributed to financial challenges within the cocoa sector. Dr. Forson also announced that the government plans to introduce a new cocoa bill in Parliament shortly, aiming to establish a system that pre-finances cocoa purchases nationwide.