Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a senior aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on the government to urgently clear outstanding payments owed to cocoa farmers, which he claims amount to approximately GH¢6.5 billion.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on June 18, Mr. Aboagye expressed concern over delays in payments to farmers, arguing that the situation has caused significant hardship for cocoa-producing communities across the country.
According to him, the last payment released to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) for onward disbursement to cocoa farmers was GH¢4.2 billion on March 12, 2026. He noted that no additional funds have been released since then, leaving many farmers waiting for the balance of payments owed to them.
Mr. Aboagye stated that cocoa farmers endured several months without payment, including during the peak harvest season and the Christmas period, a situation he described as unprecedented in Ghana’s cocoa sector.
He further claimed that the total amount owed to farmers initially stood at about GH¢11.5 billion. While the government later released part of the funds following public concerns and protests by farmers, he argued that the remaining balance remains substantial and continues to affect livelihoods.
According to him, government officials initially denied reports of outstanding payments but later acknowledged the situation and announced plans to settle the debt. He said that although a significant portion of the funds was subsequently released, the outstanding amount remains unpaid.
Mr. Aboagye therefore urged the government to expedite the payment process to ease the financial burden on cocoa farmers and restore confidence within the sector.
Source: Citinewsroom.com