Baffour Kwaku Agyemang, the Dormaa Akwansra Kontihene and 2017 National Best Cocoa Farmer, has publicly expressed deep frustration over the worsening situation facing cocoa farmers across Ghana.
Speaking in an interview with Dormaa FM, Baffour Agyemang said many farmers who were encouraged to invest heavily in cocoa production are now left unpaid for beans they supplied months ago, with no clear timeline for settlement from the government or Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs).
“It is disheartening to see farmers struggle after being encouraged to invest in cocoa farming,” he said.
“The government started well with good prices and support, but things have gotten completely out of hand.”
He described his own experience, stating that his cocoa beans remain locked up and he has not received payment, adding to the financial hardship faced by many in the industry.
“As a farmer myself, I’m frustrated. My cocoa is sitting there, and I’m struggling to get paid,” he lamented.
Baffour Agyemang warned that if the situation is not urgently addressed by the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), farmers may be forced to take matters into their own hands — a veiled reference to the growing risk of smuggling or abandoning cocoa farming altogether.
“They should act before farmers take matters into their own hands,” he urged.
The comments come amid widespread reports from cocoa-growing communities that payments for beans supplied since November 2025 remain outstanding, despite earlier assurances from COCOBOD. Many farmers have said they are struggling to meet basic needs, pay school fees, or fund the next farming season.
The 2017 National Best Farmer’s public outcry adds significant weight to the growing discontent in the cocoa sector and is likely to increase pressure on authorities to resolve the payment delays swiftly.
