Growing frustration is building among cocoa stakeholders in parts of the Bono Region, where delays in payments to farmers have triggered financial hardship and tensions along the cocoa supply chain.
At the centre of the concern is Elder George Owusu, a cocoa Purchasing Clerk (PC) for Olam Ghana in the Berekum Municipality, who says he is facing repeated threats from aggrieved farmers over unpaid cocoa proceeds.
He explained that although he continues to buy cocoa beans from farmers, payments have not been forthcoming from the purchasing system since 2026, leaving both farmers and buyers in a difficult position. According to him, the situation has escalated to the point where his personal safety is now at risk.
Elder Owusu made the remarks during an engagement between cocoa farmers and a parliamentary Minority Caucus delegation at Akroforo, where stakeholders gathered to discuss the impact of delayed payments on livelihoods.
Farmers at the meeting painted a grim picture of their economic situation. One physically challenged farmer, Stevis Kwame Owusu, said he is struggling to afford medical care, school fees, and rent, relying solely on his cocoa farm for survival.
Another farmer, Mary Tima, lamented that harvested cocoa beans had been left uncollected for long periods, resulting in spoilage and further losses.
They appealed for urgent government intervention to settle outstanding payments and stabilise the cocoa sector, warning that continued delays were worsening poverty in farming communities.
Leading the parliamentary delegation, Ayeh Asafo-Adjei said the caucus was in the area to assess conditions on the ground and amplify farmers’ concerns in Parliament. He criticised what he described as poor handling of cocoa sector payments and called for immediate action to restore confidence among farmers.
He was joined by Kwabena Boateng, who expressed concern that economic pressure was pushing some farmers toward leasing land for illegal mining activities. He urged authorities to address the situation to prevent further environmental and agricultural decline.
The MPs assured farmers that their concerns would be raised in Parliament as part of ongoing advocacy for improved welfare and stability in the cocoa sector, while urging patience as discussions continue.
