Miracles Aboagye demands payment of GH¢6.5bn owed to cocoa farmers

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a senior aide to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed concern over delays in payments to cocoa farmers, calling on the government to release about GH¢6.5 billion allegedly still owed to them.

He explained that the most recent payment of GH¢4.2 billion, disbursed on March 12, 2026, to Licensed Buying Companies for onward payment to farmers, was not followed by any further releases, leaving many farmers without income and in continued uncertainty.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 18, he said the prolonged delay has subjected farmers to months of financial hardship, including the peak harvest and festive season, describing the situation as unprecedented in Ghana’s cocoa sector.

He added that the total debt owed to cocoa farmers is about GH¢11.5 billion, arguing that the partial payments made so far are insufficient given the scale of the arrears.

“Cocoa farmers had gone October, November, December, and January without being paid. They didn’t even celebrate Christmas. They were owed close to GH¢11.5 billion. When we brought it out, they denied it and said it wasn’t true.

“Until we went around the cocoa farms, then they had no choice. Until cocoa farmers came to Accra to protest, then they had no choice again. Then they came to admit it. When they finally admitted it, they called what they described as an emergency cabinet meeting.

“Only for them to come out and say they were going to pay GH¢11 billion. The first week after that announcement, they released about GH¢5 billion. As we speak, cocoa farmers are still owed about GH¢6.5 billion. The last time any payment was released was about four months ago,” he said.