BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Tensions are rising in the cocoa sector as young farmers accuse authorities of delaying payments for cocoa beans delivered months ago, warning that continued uncertainty and possible further price reductions could undermine youth participation in the country’s most important agricultural industry.
In a press statement dated March 12, 2026, the Young Cocoa Farmers Association expressed frustration over what it described as “continuous discussions and politics” surrounding cocoa prices while many farmers remain unpaid for their produce.
According to the association, although farmers reluctantly accepted the recent cocoa price reduction, the decision has not been welcomed by producers.
The statement jointly signed by Adwoa Mensah, Executive Secretary of the association, and Martin Adu, the group’s Convener, called on authorities to urgently resolve the payment delays and restore confidence among cocoa farmers.
The group said their acceptance of the new price was driven not by satisfaction but by the lack of alternatives available to cocoa farmers who depend heavily on the crop for survival.
The farmers indicated that government officials had earlier announced that funds had been released to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to facilitate payments to farmers who had already sold their cocoa beans.
However, they claim that many farmers are yet to receive the money for cocoa delivered more than four months ago.
The situation, according to the association, has left many producers struggling to meet their basic needs despite months of labour invested in cocoa farming.
“After all the hard work, sacrifices and dedication that go into cocoa farming, it is painful to find ourselves in such a difficult position,” the statement said.
Beyond the delayed payments, the group also raised concerns that some cocoa beans remain unsold, further worsening the financial difficulties faced by farmers.
The association said the uncertainty has created a growing sense of abandonment among young people involved in cocoa farming, with many losing hope in the future of the sector.
The cocoa industry has long been a pillar of the national economy, providing livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of farming households and serving as one of the country’s largest foreign exchange earners.
However, farmers say delays in payments and fluctuating producer prices continue to threaten the sustainability of cocoa farming, particularly for younger generations.
The Young Cocoa Farmers Association warned that the financial pressure is becoming severe as the lean farming season approaches, a period when farmers must invest in crucial farm maintenance activities to prepare for the next production cycle.
According to the group, many farmers currently lack the funds needed to hire labour for essential tasks such as weeding, pruning, spraying, and purchasing insecticides, activities that are critical to sustaining cocoa yields.
“We are not asking for favors — we are only demanding what we have rightfully earned,” the association stressed, urging authorities to prioritise immediate payments instead of engaging in prolonged public discussions about the sector.
The group also reacted strongly to reports suggesting that there could be another possible reduction in cocoa prices, warning that such a move would severely discourage young people from remaining in cocoa farming.
They cautioned that further price cuts could trigger a broader crisis in the industry, potentially pushing landowners to release cocoa farms for Illegal Mining, which has already caused significant environmental damage across several cocoa-growing regions.
Farmers say if economic conditions in the cocoa sector continue to deteriorate, many young producers may abandon cocoa farming entirely, a development that could weaken the long-standing reputation as one of the world’s leading cocoa producers.
