Ghana's cocoa farmers face ruin as online payments stall for months
Cocoa farmers in Ghana's Akyekrom and Ofoase-Ayirebi communities are facing severe financial strain as online payments for their crops remain delayed. Reports suggest some have waited up to four months for funds, far longer than in previous years. The crisis is now pushing families into debt and cutting local spending by an estimated 20-30%.
Cocoa serves as the lifeline for these farming communities, funding essentials like food, school fees, and farm upkeep. Without online payments, many families are struggling to get by. The situation has grown worse with cheaper imported rice flooding local markets, adding pressure on already stretched household budgets.
In Ofoase-Ayirebi, frustrated farmers have called for immediate government action to resolve the non-payment issue. Their concerns reached Member of Parliament Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who recently toured cocoa farms in the area. After hearing firsthand accounts, he pledged to raise the matter in Parliament.
While exact figures on the economic fallout remain unpublished, industry analyses from the Ghana Cocoa Board and Reuters highlight a pattern of reduced spending and rising debt in similar regions. The delays, which began in late 2025, mark a sharp departure from the more timely online payments farmers received in 2024.
The ongoing payment crisis continues to disrupt daily life for cocoa farmers, leaving many unable to cover basic needs. With no clear resolution in sight, the economic strain on these communities is expected to deepen. Local leaders and lawmakers are now under pressure to find solutions before the situation worsens.
