Ghana Cocoa Board has refuted allegations suggesting that some of its officials are engaged in private cocoa purchasing, stressing that all cocoa buying activities in the country are handled exclusively by licensed buying companies.
The issue was recently raised by the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association, which warned that such practices if true could erode trust in the sector, distort market competition, and deepen financial strain within the cocoa industry.
Responding to the claims during a media briefing following the announcement of the 2027 World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting, Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Randy Abbey, described the allegations as baseless and inaccurate.
He clarified that COCOBOD officials are not directly involved in purchasing cocoa, explaining that the Board’s role is to license private buying companies that operate through agents in cocoa-producing communities across the country.
Dr. Abbey further stated that cocoa procurement is carried out solely by these licensed buying company agents on behalf of COCOBOD.
He added that it is misleading to suggest that COCOBOD staff engage in cocoa buying, insisting that such claims stem from a misunderstanding of how the system works.
“Those who buy cocoa are the agents of the licensed buying companies. Officials of Cocoa Board do not buy cocoa. The Cocoa Board licenses buying companies who have agents in the districts purchasing cocoa on their behalf. These companies are buying the cocoa on behalf of Cocoa Board, so how can anybody say that an official of Cocoa Board is out there buying cocoa? It is born out of ignorance,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has indicated that the upcoming global cocoa conference will serve as a key platform to advocate for fairer and more sustainable pricing structures that can improve the livelihoods of farmers.
He noted that while cocoa underpins a global chocolate industry valued at over $100 billion annually, many farmers in the sector continue to earn incomes below sustainable living standards.
“The cocoa industry directly supports millions of farmers, according to the Fair Trade Report. Yet despite sustaining the global chocolate industry worth well over $100 billion annually, many cocoa farmers continue to live below income levels and that situation must concern all of us. The future of chocolate cannot be secured if the future of cocoa farmers remains uncertain,” he said.
The 2027 World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting is scheduled to take place in Accra from March 17 to 18, 2027, under the theme “From Origin to Resilience.”
The event is expected to gather government representatives, cocoa traders, chocolate manufacturers, development partners, and sustainability advocates to deliberate on the future of the global cocoa value chain.
Officials believe hosting the conference will strengthen Ghana’s voice in international cocoa policy discussions while showcasing ongoing efforts to enhance farmer welfare, sustainability, and value addition in the sector.