The Ghana Accountability Forum (GAF) has called for an immediate forensic audit into the finances of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), warning that without transparency and decisive reforms, Ghana’s cocoa economy could face deeper financial and structural instability.
As the nation embarks on reforms in its cocoa sector, the Forum insists that a full-scale, independent investigation is critical to restore confidence, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and secure one of Ghana’s most strategic economic pillars.
In a statement signed by its Interim Chairman, Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, GAF urged government to establish an independent audit committee to scrutinize COCOBOD’s financial commitments, debt profile, and governance practices and to make the findings public.
“Accountability should not be politicized but rather seen as a national responsibility to safeguard Ghana’s most iconic agricultural sector,” the statement emphasized.
Cocoa remains central to Ghana’s export earnings, rural employment, and foreign exchange stability.
However, concerns over rising debt, declining production, and governance challenges have intensified calls for greater parliamentary oversight and institutional reforms.
According to the Forum, reports suggesting a significant increase in COCOBOD’s debt burden require urgent clarification to protect public funds and investor confidence.
“The scale of financial strain, declining cocoa output, and growing concerns among farmers demand urgent scrutiny of management decisions, financial commitments, and governance practices within COCOBOD,” the statement noted.
GAF warned that failure to act decisively could undermine rural economies, as cocoa supports hundreds of thousands of farming households across the country.
A sharp decline in annual cocoa production, driven by illegal mining, ageing farms, plant diseases, and limited farmer support systems, poses serious risks to national revenue and community livelihoods.
The Forum stressed that the current moment presents an opportunity for bold reform rather than quiet adjustment.
“The current situation within the cocoa sector raises serious questions about oversight, accountability, and long-term sustainability. A thorough investigation is necessary to establish the facts and protect the national interest,” the statement added.
Beyond the audit, GAF called for strengthened parliamentary oversight and institutional safeguards to prevent future financial mismanagement.
It argued that structural reforms must place transparency and accountability at the core of COCOBOD’s governance framework.
The Ghana Accountability Forum, a non-partisan coalition of civil society organisations, anti-corruption advocates, media practitioners, youth activists, and concerned citizens, positions itself as a credible platform for demanding integrity in public financial management.
The group focuses on anti-corruption advocacy, social accountability, access to information, media freedom, and whistleblower protection.
For many stakeholders, the call for a forensic audit signals a broader push to rebuild trust in Ghana’s cocoa governance architecture.
GAF maintains that cocoa is not merely an agricultural commodity but a symbol of Ghana’s economic identity. Protecting it, the Forum argues, requires courage, transparency, and decisive reforms.
With structural changes underway in the cocoa sector, the Forum believes a transparent forensic audit could mark a turning point, clarifying the financial position of COCOBOD, restoring farmer confidence, strengthening fiscal discipline, and ensuring that Ghana’s cocoa economy remains sustainable for future generations.
