Also known as: Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board · Coco Board
State-owned enterprise managing Ghana's cocoa sector; has GH¢4bn debt to Licensed Buying Companies threatening 2026/27 season purchases.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has rejected concerns raised by the Minority over the newly passed Cocoa Bill, insisting the legislation contains reforms aimed at protecting cocoa farmers and addressing gaps in the management of the sector. …
Cocoa Bill: COCOBOD says new reforms will protect farmers from sector’s old gapsJoy Online
The Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Jerome Kwame Sam, has challenged claims by the Minority that Parliament rushed the passage of the new cocoa bill. …
COCOBOD’s Jerome Sam challenges claims Minority claims parliament rushed Cocoa BillJoy Online
The Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Jerome Kwame Sam, says Parliament identified and corrected a constitutional flaw in the new Cocoa Bill before it was passed. …
Cocoa Bill: Parliament caught constitutional flaw in mining provision before passage – Jerome SamJoy Online
The Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Jerome Kwame Sam, says the Minority in Parliament has opposed the new cocoa bill from the outset and continues to raise concerns despite its passage. …
Minority has opposed Cocoa Bill from the onset – COCOBODJoy Online
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has rejected concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament over the newly passed cocoa legislation, describing the opposition’s narrative as “unfounded.” Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Jerome Kwame Sam, said the legislation was subjected to ext …
Minority’s narrative is unfounded – COCOBOD fires back over controversial Cocoa BillJoy Online
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has rejected criticism of the newly passed Cocoa Bill, insisting there is “absolutely nothing” wrong with the legislation. …
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it – COCOBOD defends new Cocoa Bill amid minority attacksJoy Online
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has rejected criticism of the newly passed Cocoa Bill, insisting there is “absolutely nothing” wrong with the legislation. …
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it – COCOBOD defends new Cocoa Bill amid minority criticismJoy Online
… Among those present were Deputy Defence Minister Ernest Brogya Genfi, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Ghana Cocoa Board C …
Photos: Omane Boamah remembered one year after his deathJoy Online
… Dr Opoku described aspects of the newly passed Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, as unacceptable, particularly Clause 81. …
NPP will not support any attempt to criminalise cocoa farmers – Isaac Yaw OpokuJoy Online
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on President John Mahama not to assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, but to return it to Parliament for broader stakeholder consultation. …
NPP urges Mahama not to assent to Cocoa Board Bill over ‘rushed’ passageThe Chamber of Cocoa Marketers Ghana warns that the Ghana Cocoa Board's outstanding GH¢4 billion debt to Licensed Buying Companies could undermine the industry's ability to purchase cocoa when the 2026/27 season opens, as LBCs struggle with financial pressure and face difficulty securing fresh funding.
18 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
The Chamber of Cocoa Marketers Ghana warns that the Ghana Cocoa Board's outstanding GH¢4 billion debt to Licensed Buying Companies could undermine the industry's ability to purchase cocoa when the 2026/27 season opens, as LBCs struggle with financial pressure and face difficulty securing fresh funding.
18 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
Ghanaian farm company Afarinick and Japan's Meiji Co. Ltd. have signed a Letter of Intent to develop a sustainable agroforestry cocoa model in Ghana that combines cocoa production with agroforestry and reuses farm waste to improve resource efficiency.
17 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Sefwi Wiawso Constituency Chairman of the NPP has accused the NDC's eight regional MPs of failing to pressure President Mahama to honour campaign promises to cocoa farmers, including polytanks for irrigation and a cocoa price of over GH¢6,000 per bag; the current price is GH¢2,500.
11 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
The Majority Chief Whip has accused the IMF of showing political bias against the NDC government following the Fund's assessment of governance in Ghana's state-owned enterprises, arguing that the IMF criticises NDC administrations over practices also prevalent under NPP rule. The IMF report identified the politicisation of board and chief executive appointments as a major weakness, noting that appointments remain highly political and centralised in the Presidency despite Ghana's framework intended to make them merit-based.
11 September 2026 · Joy Online →
President John Dramani Mahama has directed state-owned enterprises and public institutions to recruit and promote staff strictly on merit, warning that political connections, personal relationships and proximity to power must not substitute for competence, integrity and performance. He also warned boards and managements against conflicts of interest, abuse of office and wasteful expenditure, directing that procurement be lawful and competitive.
11 September 2026 · The Chronicle →
An IMF Technical Assistance Report found that 87 percent of contracts under COCOBOD's cocoa roads investment portfolio were directly awarded without competitive tendering, reflecting broader weaknesses in procurement, project costing, and contract management within the state-owned enterprise.
11 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Ten state-owned enterprises collectively recorded a net loss of GH¢8.8 billion in 2024, about 1.0% of GDP, with the Electricity Company of Ghana accounting for 85% of those losses. The IMF attributed the losses mainly to high financing costs, which reached GH¢9.4 billion—nearly six times the earnings before interest and tax.
10 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The International Monetary Fund has identified the politicisation of board and chief executive appointments as a major weakness in Ghana's state-owned enterprises, warning that the practice undermines the independence and professionalism of boards despite established frameworks intended to make appointments merit-based. The IMF cited examples including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, where the board was chaired by the national chairman of the governing party, and the Volta River Authority, which has prominent politicians on its board alongside technocrats, noting these arrangements depart from OECD standards that emphasise independent and professional majorities.
10 September 2026 · Joy Online →
President Mahama told Ghana's state-owned enterprises that they must convert financial gains into lasting operational efficiency and demonstrate credible evidence of value created for citizens, stressing that public ownership must produce public value and that persistent losses can no longer be quietly transferred to the national budget.
10 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Cocoa Board has completed its 2026 payment obligations under Ghana's Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, totalling GH¢2.68 billion. The achievement demonstrates fiscal discipline and COCOBOD's historical role in stabilising Ghana's economy during debt crises.
7 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
IMANI Africa's Bright Simons has challenged the State Interests and Governance Authority's portrayal of state-owned enterprises' financial performance, arguing that underlying data do not support the claim of a "massive" turnaround despite SOEs posting a combined net profit of GH¢19.8 billion in 2025 against a loss of GH¢2.25 billion in 2024. Simons cited indicators including the number of profitable entities, cumulative losses, current ratios and dividend payments as evidence that the turnaround narrative is not borne out by the data.
5 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Cocoa Board has settled GH¢2.3 billion in outstanding payment obligations to bondholders affected by the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme for the 2026 financial year, bringing its total DDEP payments for the year to GH¢2.68 billion. The Board also previously settled GH¢162 million owed to non-participating Cocoa Bill holders in July 2026.
1 September 2026 · The Chronicle →
Ghana's Cocoa Board has completed its mandatory payment obligations under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme by settling GH¢2.3 billion owed to bondholders, with total payments to DDEP bondholders in 2026 reaching GH¢2.68 billion including an earlier March coupon payment.
1 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama says the government is hopeful of a ratings upgrade in the second half of 2026, following recent upgrades from S&P and Fitch Ratings. The Governor attributed the improvements to fiscal consolidation through enhanced domestic revenue mobilization, prudent expenditure management, and restoration of debt sustainability.
28 August 2026 · Joy Online →
President Mahama has signed ten Bills into law, introducing reforms across cocoa production, taxation, customs, and energy. Key changes include requiring cocoa farmers to receive at least 70% of the FOB price, mandating 50% local cocoa processing, designating cocoa farms as protected lands, and introducing community service as an alternative to imprisonment.
26 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone has called for far-reaching reforms to the COCOBOD Act to promote market-based principles and reduce financial and operational inefficiencies that are straining farmers and Ghana's public finances. Without reforms in the cocoa and energy sectors, the official warned, fiscal gains from Ghana's economic reform programme could erode.
26 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The World Bank says delays in implementing Ghana's energy sector recovery programmes cost the country approximately $1 billion annually, putting pressure on public finances. Without decisive action, some fiscal gains from Ghana's economic reform programme could be reversed.
26 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The World Bank says Ghana's economy grew 6% in 2025 and 6.4% in early 2026, with improved macroeconomic stability and reduced public debt, but persistent poverty, weak job creation, and infrastructure gaps threaten sustainability of recent gains.
26 August 2026 · Joy Online →
About 400 cocoa farmers in Volta and Oti Regions say they have not been paid for beans supplied to licensed buyers since November 2025, despite claims by the Concerned Cocoa Farmers Association that all cocoa farmers across the country have been fully paid. The farmers say the delay has caused severe financial hardship, with many unable to pay school fees and meet basic household needs.
25 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The Chamber of Cocoa Marketers, formed from the transformation of the Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana, has called for stronger collaboration, improved access to finance, increased local processing and responsible governance to support growth in Ghana's cocoa sector. The Acting President said the transition would enhance the sector's growth and position the institution as a standards-driven body capable of contributing to reforms across the cocoa value chain.
25 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The Cocoa Marketing Company has begun 24-hour operations at its cocoa takeover and export facilities to reduce delays and improve turnaround times, with three commitments: receiving cocoa around the clock (Offload 24), supplying local processing factories continuously (Load 24), and conducting inspection, sealing and documentation work beyond traditional hours (Export 24).
22 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Former COCOBOD official Fiifi Boafo has criticised the NDC over recurring power outages, arguing the party has not demonstrated the capacity to manage the power sector effectively and that the frequent electricity disruptions are undermining public confidence in the government.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Young Cocoa Farmers Association has petitioned President Mahama to address financial challenges confronting cocoa farmers ahead of the 2026/27 season. The Association says the 2025/26 season left many young farmers financially distressed, with difficulties in selling cocoa and accessing advances from Licensed Buying Companies and purchasing clerks due to funding constraints.
18 August 2026 · The Chronicle →
Cocoa farmers from Juaben, Asiwa, Juaso, and Konongo have welcomed the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, passed by Parliament, expressing support for reforms aimed at protecting farmers' interests and strengthening the industry's sustainability. COCOBOD held a sensitization rally in Konongo attended by over 400 participants to explain the Bill's provisions, including measures on farmer welfare, producer pricing, farm protection, smuggling control, financing, pensions, education support, and local processing.
17 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Chamber of Cocoa Marketers, following its transition from the Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana, has called for stronger collaboration, improved financing, increased value addition and responsible governance to enhance Ghana's cocoa sector growth and position itself as a standards-driven, policy-influential body.
17 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board has rejected claims that the Cocoa Board Bill 2026 will restrict intercropping, saying the legislation aims to protect cocoa farms from illegal mining, logging, and real estate development by requiring authorisation before cocoa trees can be destroyed, uprooted, damaged or felled except in approved rehabilitation programmes.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Cocoa Board has warned Licensed Buying Companies against purchasing cocoa from farmers on credit, threatening to revoke the licences of repeat offenders. The directive aims to improve liquidity in the cocoa purchasing system, ensure prompt farmer payment, and reduce LBCs' indebtedness to financial institutions.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Parliament's Majority has called on President Mahama to assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, which they say will guarantee cocoa farmers 70% of the world market price realised by COCOBOD. The Minority has opposed the move, urging the President to return the Bill to Parliament for broader stakeholder consultation.
12 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The opposition New Patriotic Party has called on President Mahama to withhold assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, arguing that although the reform aims at improving traceability and guaranteeing farmers a minimum share of export earnings, several provisions could hurt farmers. The party objected to the bill's passage under a Certificate of Urgency within days of being laid in Parliament, without adequate consultation with cocoa farmers and other key stakeholders.
11 August 2026 · The Chronicle →
The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association has urged the Government to delay presidential assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, saying some provisions could restrict farmers from converting unproductive cocoa farms to other uses and that many farmers lack understanding of the legislation.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →