Francis Teinor, the president of the Mankrong Cocoa Cooperative Farmers Association, has threatened a demonstration over unpaid COCOBOD arrears.
According to him, Cocoa farmers across the country will hit the streets to demonstrate starting from next week if the COCOBOD CEO Dr Randy Abbey fails to pay them.
Francis Teinor cried out that Cocoa farmers have been plunged into severe financial hardship, which is now affecting their basic needs and homes.
Speaking to Citi News, President of the Mankrong Cocoa Cooperative Farmers Association, Francis Teinor, stated, “It is really affecting farmers; some are sick and want to seek medication, but they don’t have money to go to the hospital. Do you want them to die? School has reopened, and parents want to pay fees.
“We cannot also keep the cocoa because farmers don’t have the storage facilities.
“As I speak, it’s been about six weeks, no money for cocoa farmers. This is seriously affecting the sector. If the COCOBOD CEO does not do anything about it, he should expect something ugly from next week. Farmers are not happy; if he is not careful, we will be on the streets next week,” he said.
Also, the President of the Ghana National Association of Cocoa Farmers (GNACOF), Stevenson Anane Boateng, has revealed that cocoa farmers have not been paid for their produce purchased by the government since November 2025.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Stevenson Anane Boateng explained, “The government is buying our cocoa but has refused to pay us. Since November, we have not been paid. They accept the cocoa, but they don’t pay us”.
When asked what might have caused the delay, he responded: “We don’t know. We are not part of the government, so please, you need to ask them why they have refused to pay cocoa farmers. This is troubling, and we want the government to address our concerns.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest some Cocoa farmers are also contemplating smuggling the beans to neighbouring countries and selling off their lands to illegal miners.
This comes at a time. Ghana Cocoa Board races against time to rethink its financing scheme in cocoa purchases.
Furthermore, a leading member of the pressure group Arise Ghana, Listowel Nana Poku, has claimed the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, cannot differentiate between cocoa and pawpaw.
According to Listowel Nana Poku, Dr Randy Abbey lacks the needed expertise to lead such a sensitive institution like the COCOBOD.
The Arise Ghana man called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately dismiss Dr Randy Abbey as the CEO of COCOBOD.
He labelled Dr Abbey as incompetent, adding that he had already been personally opposed to the appointment from the outset.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem via Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Listowel Nana Poku stated, “I have consistently argued that Dr Randy Abbey lacks competence in cocoa affairs. He should never have been appointed to head COCOBOD. He cannot even differentiate between cocoa and pawpaw,” Poku stated.
“The President should have known better. He is in constant conflict with his colleagues and has stayed in the position far too long. He should have been dismissed long ago.”
Listowel Nana Poku further expressed frustration over the lack of prosecution for alleged financial mismanagement within the board, alleging that previous management of COCOBOD misappropriated $263 million intended for the rehabilitation of 156,000 hectares of cocoa plantations.
Watch the video below:
Cocoa farmers in Ghana have issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to settle outstanding payments for beans supplied during the 2025/2026 season.
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) February 2, 2026
Facing severe financial distress due to the prolonged delay, they warn they will be compelled to sell their produce to… pic.twitter.com/QZ4g3fzray