𝗡𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗻𝗼 𝗝𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 – 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗣𝗣 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗱

The Western North Regional Secretariat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as the deliberate neglect and gradual collapse of Ghana’s cocoa sector, blaming the situation on inadequate funding and an acute shortage of cocoa jute sacks.

In a statement signed by the Regional Communications Officer, Addo Yaw Harry (Ogyaba), the party said cocoa farmers and licensed buying companies (LBCs) across the country are facing severe hardship due to the lack of financial support from the government through COCOBOD.

According to the statement, government attention appears to have shifted away from cocoa to gold trading under the Goldbod initiative, resulting in reduced funding for cocoa purchases.

The NPP noted that while significant financial commitments have reportedly been made to Goldbod through the Ministry of Finance, COCOBOD has been left without adequate resources to operate effectively.

The party disclosed that from December 2025 to date, LBCs have not received sufficient funds to buy cocoa from farmers at the farm gate. As a result, many cocoa farmers are currently sitting on large quantities of bagged cocoa with no buyers, forcing them to store their produce for extended periods.

The statement further highlighted an unprecedented shortage of cocoa jute sacks, describing the situation as one not witnessed in decades.

It stated that buying companies can no longer access the standard jute sacks, compelling both farmers and companies to resort to using fertilizer sacks to store cocoa—a practice that compromises quality and violates international standards.

“This situation is unacceptable,” the statement stressed.

The Western North NPP warned that the continued lack of money in cocoa-growing communities could lead to increased cocoa smuggling into neighbouring countries, deepening poverty among farmers, and a worrying trend where frustrated farmers lease or sell their cocoa farms to illegal miners.

The party called on the government and COCOBOD to act with immediate effect by releasing adequate funds to licensed buying companies to enable nationwide cocoa purchases and urgently supplying cocoa jute sacks to ensure proper storage and transportation.

“Cocoa farmers need prompt payment for their produce. Buying companies need funds and jute sacks to operate effectively. Stop starving the cocoa sector. COCOBOD must act now,” the statement concluded.