TEMA, Ghana, 4th July: The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has commended the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for releasing funds to facilitate payments to cocoa farmers across the country.
He described the move as a step in the right direction but cautioned that the situation where cocoa farmers were left unpaid should never be repeated.
His comments follow COCOBOD’s announcement that it had released GH¢2.6 billion to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to enable them to pay cocoa farmers for cocoa purchases made across Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 2, the Board said the funds were meant to ensure that all farmers who supplied cocoa through the approved purchasing system receive their payments promptly.
COCOBOD further disclosed that it has so far paid a total of GH¢34.52 billion to Licensed Buying Companies since the beginning of the 2025/26 cocoa crop season for onward payment to cocoa farmers.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme, Mr. Koomson welcomed the release of the funds but urged the management of COCOBOD to address the underlying challenges that led to the payment delays.
He stressed that the Board must use the opportunity to reset its operations, resolve the issues inherited from the past, and ensure that cocoa farmers receive their payments on time going forward.
According to him, prompt payment is essential to protecting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers, sustaining confidence in Ghana’s cocoa sector, and boosting productivity across the industry.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
