Hundreds of cocoa farmers in Ghana’s Atwima Mponua District have taken to the streets in protest over the government’s failure to release funds owed to them, highlighting growing financial distress in the cocoa farming community.
Clad in red bands as a symbol of urgency and hardship, the farmers presented a petition to the Atwima Mponua District Assembly, calling for immediate government intervention to resolve the long-standing payment delays.
The protest involves approximately 18,200 farmers who are struggling due to the delayed payment of cocoa purchasing clerks. According to the Ghana National Association of Cocoa, thousands of their members across the district are affected, raising serious concerns about the welfare of families dependent on cocoa for their livelihoods.
“This situation is unacceptable. We are struggling to survive, and the government needs to take immediate action,” one of the protesting farmers said, reflecting the frustrations of the community.
The demonstration forms part of a larger national concern, with the Minority in Parliament calling on the government to settle over GH¢10 billion owed to licensed buying companies for cocoa beans supplied since November 2025.
In response to the continued delays, the farmers have issued a three-week ultimatum to the government, warning that nationwide demonstrations will follow if the outstanding arrears remain unpaid.
“If the COCOBOD CEO does not do anything about it, he should expect something ugly from next week,” Kwame Tufuor, a representative of the farmers, warned.
The protest underscores the urgent need for government action to protect the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and stabilize Ghana’s cocoa sector, which remains a critical pillar of the national economy.
