Business News of Sunday, 8 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comPresident of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has called on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to deregulate the cocoa sector. Speaking on Channel One TV’s ‘The Big Issue’, Franklin Cudjoe said farmers should be allowed to form cooperatives and negotiate directly with buyers, rather than being restricted to COCOBOD’s marketing monopoly. Buyers shun Ghana’s cocoa over high prices – COCOBOD laments. His comments come at a time when Ghana’s cocoa industry is grappling with challenges, including fluctuating international prices and rising production costs. Currently, COCOBOD has released more than GH¢620 million in February 2026 to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to settle outstanding payments and enable them to pay cocoa farmers for their produce.

Source: GhanaWeb February 08, 2026 15:13 UTC