President John Dramani Mahama has called an emergency Cabinet meeting for Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to address mounting challenges in Ghana’s cocoa sector, the West African nation’s second-largest export earner. The announcement was made by Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu on social media.
President Mahama has called an EMERGENCY CABINET SESSION for tomorrow, Wednesday, 11th February, 2026, to address all issues affecting the Cocoa sector.
— Felix Kwakye Ofosu (@FelixKwakyeOfo1) February 10, 2026The cocoa industry is grappling with serious financing shortfalls, leaving many farmers and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) unpaid for months. Industry officials warn that without swift government action; these disruptions could threaten the sector’s stability and undermine rural livelihoods.
The Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana (LICOBAG) said the government must secure emergency financing to purchase roughly 300,000 tonnes of cocoa beans by September to prevent a near-collapse. Delayed payments to LBCs have added strain across the value chain, heightening concerns about confidence in Ghana’s cocoa market.
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), which manages pricing, procurement, and exports, has acknowledged a funding gap and is working with the Ministry of Finance on potential remedies. Officials are reportedly exploring alternatives to the long-standing syndicated loan model, which has traditionally financed cocoa purchases but has faltered under current economic pressures.
COCOBOD itself is facing multiple operational and structural challenges. Observers note that the board’s negative equity, rising debts, and liquidity problems have hampered its ability to manage cocoa purchases efficiently. Reports indicate delays in supplier payments, understaffed administrative units, and aging plantation oversight systems have compounded the sector’s difficulties.
Farmers have expressed frustration with the 2025/2026 crop pricing, saying it falls short of expectations and may encourage smuggling, further undermining incomes and reducing national export revenue. In addition, persistent issues such as aging cocoa farms, crop diseases, and climate-related disruptions continue to threaten output, while logistical bottlenecks in transportation and storage make timely procurement more difficult.
The emergency Cabinet session will convene ministers, sector experts, and government officials to design immediate interventions, including ensuring timely payments to farmers, securing short-term financing for cocoa purchases, improving operational efficiency within COCOBOD, and reinforcing confidence in the sector.
The meeting is a critical test for Ghana’s cocoa value chain, with decisions expected to shape both the immediate stability and long-term resilience of an industry that supports millions of rural livelihoods and feeds into the global chocolate market.
