File photo of cocoa farmers
The President of the Ghana National Association of Cocoa Farmers (GNACOF), Stevenson Anane Boateng, has revealed that cocoa farmers have not been paid for their produce purchased by the government since November 2025.
He described the situation as so dire that many farmers were unable to celebrate Christmas and New Year.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Boateng said farmers remain in the dark about why the authorities have failed to pay them.
“The government is buying our cocoa but has refused to pay us. Since November, we have not been paid. They accept the cocoa, but they don’t pay us,” he lamented.
When asked what might have caused the delay, he responded: “We don’t know. We are not part of the government, so please, you need to ask them why they have refused to pay cocoa farmers. This is troubling, and we want the government to address our concerns.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA) has issued a warning to the government, stating that if a pension scheme is not introduced, health insurance is not improved, and quality healthcare is not provided, farmers will be forced to take matters into their own hands.
GNACOFA has formally appealed for urgent reforms to enhance the welfare and safety of cocoa farmers nationwide, stressing that they currently lack adequate social protection.
The Association is calling on the government to establish a pension scheme for cocoa farmers, expand and strengthen their health insurance coverage, and provide quality healthcare to them.
Anane Boateng urged the government to act immediately, warning that failure to do so would compel farmers to organise a nationwide demonstration to press home their demands.
