Claims that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has diverted funds meant for cocoa farmers are not true, Management of the Board has debunked.
There have been allegations that COCOBOD has sponsored the senior national football team, the Ghana Black Stars, with a GH¢12 million donation.
But the Board, in a public notice issued on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, said the allegations are “false, misleading, and without any factual basis.”
The Board categorically stated that it has neither sponsored the Ghana national football team nor redirected resources intended for cocoa farmers for such a purpose.
“At no point has COCOBOD diverted funds meant for farmer payments to support the Black Stars,” the notice stressed.
According to COCOBOD, its core mandate is to prioritise the welfare of cocoa farmers, including prompt payment for cocoa purchases, the provision of inputs and extension services, and sustained investment in the cocoa sector.
It urged the general public to disregard the claims making waves in the media space and rely solely on information coming from official communication channels of the Board.
The allegations and its rejection come amid recent challenges in the cocoa sector, where COCOBOD is unable to pay cocoa farmers and other value chain operators.
President John Dramani Mahama convened an emergency Cabinet meeting to deliberate on the development and institute reforms to prevent the challenge from recurring.
While the world price of cocoa has dropped significantly, contributing to the challenge, many believe mismanagement in the sector has massively contributed to the problem, leading to the government’s decision to reduce the farm gate price of the beans in response to the ongoing challenges.
Cocoa sector crisis: You can’t give what you don’t have, even if you made a promise – Gyampo
