Cocoa farmers in Ghana have accused some officials within Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) of engaging in private cocoa buying activities that they say are undermining confidence in the sector, distorting competition and worsening financial pressures within the cocoa industry.
The concerns were raised by the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA) during the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Produce Buying Company (PBC), aimed at supporting the revival of the struggling cocoa purchasing firm and improving farmer welfare.
Speaking on behalf of the Association, GNACOFA President Stephenson Anane Boateng warned that persistent challenges such as cocoa smuggling, illegal mining on cocoa farms and delayed payments to farmers continue to threaten Ghana’s cocoa sector.
“There are concerns involving public officials, particularly within COCOBOD, engaging in private buying operations that undermine confidence in the sector,” he stated.
According to GNACOFA, such practices are damaging transparency within the cocoa value chain and creating unfair conditions for legitimate market players and cocoa farmers.
The Association further argued that these alleged activities are contributing to financial irregularities and weakening trust in Ghana’s cocoa business.
The remarks come at a difficult period for Ghana’s cocoa industry, which continues to face declining production levels, smuggling concerns and liquidity challenges affecting Licensed Buying Companies and farmer incomes.
Against this backdrop, GNACOFA said its partnership with PBC is intended to help rebuild trust within the cocoa sector while repositioning PBC as a stronger and more dependable cocoa buyer.
“This partnership marks a significant milestone towards ensuring the sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa business while supporting the revival and restoration of PBC as a strong institution within the cocoa sector,” the Association stated.
GNACOFA also called for increased transparency, accountability and integrity across the cocoa industry, insisting that restoring farmer confidence will require stronger oversight from both regulators and cocoa buying companies.
