The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced that it has released substantial funds to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to facilitate the payment of outstanding monies owed to cocoa farmers.

The assurance was given during COCOBOD's nationwide farmer sensitisation campaign on the reintroduced Free Fertiliser and Agro-Inputs Distribution Programme and broader reforms aimed at revitalising Ghana's cocoa sector.

Addressing cocoa farmers, the Deputy Head of Public Affairs, Benjamin Teye Larweh, acknowledged the temporary delays in producer payments and attributed them to financing constraints arising from what he described as an unprecedented decline in international cocoa prices.

He, however, assured farmers that COCOBOD had made funds available to Licensed Buying Companies to enable them to settle the outstanding payments.

Mr Larweh expressed confidence that the payment process would be completed shortly, allowing farmers to reinvest in their farms ahead of the new crop season.

He also commended cocoa farmers for their resilience, patience and continued commitment to cocoa production despite the economic and operational challenges confronting the sector in recent years.

According to him, COCOBOD remains committed to restoring confidence in the cocoa industry through policy reforms, improved stakeholder engagement and interventions aimed at increasing productivity and improving farmers' welfare.

The nationwide sensitisation campaign, being undertaken by COCOBOD's Public Affairs Department in collaboration with the Cocoa Pest and Disease Control (CODAPEC) Unit of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), is expected to cover cocoa-growing communities across the country.