Government Deliberating Delaying Payment of Cocoa Farmers to Fuel Galamsey – Cocoa Farmers Association President

The President of the Ghana Cocoa Farmers Association, Stephenson Anane Boateng, has accused the government of deliberately refusing to pay cocoa farmers in order to weaken the cocoa sector and expand illegal mining activities through Goldbod.

According to him, the government derives more revenue from galamsey operations and is therefore intentionally frustrating cocoa farmers so they will be forced to sell their farmlands to illegal miners in exchange for immediate cash.

Mr Boateng made the allegation amid growing anger among cocoa farmers in parts of the Ashanti Region, where several farmers have threatened to sell their farms to illegal miners following persistent delays in payment for cocoa beans sold as far back as November 2025.

The affected farmers say the prolonged delay has worsened their living conditions, leaving them unable to cater for their families and meet basic needs. Many insist they are being pushed to the brink, with little choice but to seek alternative buyers or give in to offers from galamsey operators.

Speaking to Citi News, an opinion leader in the Huu Akwanserem community in the Amansie Central District, Nana Owusu Asim Panin II, expressed deep frustration over the situation.

“I sold my cocoa on November 28, 2025, but I still haven’t received any payment. I have children in school and a wife to provide for. It’s very difficult. If this problem isn’t fixed, we might end up selling our cocoa to galamsey operators just to get our money,” he said.

Nana Owusu Asim Panin II criticised the government for what he described as a failure to honour its campaign promises to cocoa farmers, calling for leadership in the cocoa sector that truly understands the realities on the ground.

“We need a farmer as CEO of Ghana Cocoa because they understand our problems. Politics is killing us. Randy Abbey doesn’t know anything about farming; he just reads from books,” he added.

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with Omana Nana on the Hot FM Morning Show, Mr Boateng cautioned farmers against selling their farms, describing the move as a trap deliberately set by the government.

He claimed the alleged delays form part of a broader strategy to collapse cocoa farming and make room for increased galamsey activities across cocoa-growing areas.

Mr Boateng urged cocoa farmers to remain firm and resist pressure from illegal miners while calling on the government to immediately release outstanding payments to avert further damage to the cocoa sector.

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