Cocoa reforms fail to address the inefficient input distribution system

By Joel Aweyam& Princess Owusu Boateng 

Key takeaways

• Ghana Cocoa Board’s input distribution system is inefficient, costly, and prone to corruption.
• The Board is currently undertaking mass spraying and distributing granular and liquid fertilisers, which means it is continuing to operate the inefficient system.
• Reforming the inefficient system will benefit cocoa-farming families and the country as a whole.

The Government of Ghana announced new policy reforms in February 2026 to address some of the pressing challenges in the cocoa sector. These reforms include a reduction of the farmgate price by nearly 29%, the pegging of the farmgate price to changes in world market prices and exchange rates, an end to the decades-long offshore syndicated loans, among others.

However, the Ghana Cocoa Board’s (COCOBOD) age‑old inefficient input distribution system was not addressed at all. One wonders whether its exclusion from the February announcement was a clerical oversight or a deliberate omission.

Each crop season, cocoa farmers depend on vital inputs such as fertilisers, fungicides, pesticides, disinfectants, among others from COCOBOD to protect their farms from pests and diseases and improve their yields.

Challenges with the Current Distribution Model

COCOBOD exclusively handles the selection, procurement, and distribution of inputs to cocoa farmers in the country.

Since the introduction of the Cocoa Mass Spraying Program from 2001, the distribution of fertilisers, pesticides, and liquid chemicals to farmers has been fraught with leakages, delays and inefficiencies.

The Ghanaian media space is awash with reports of the theft or smuggling of free or subsidised cocoa inputs intended for vulnerable farmers.

Exposés by the renowned Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI investigative team in 2012 and 2017 uncovered the theft of several agrochemicals and fertilisers meant for poor cocoa farmers. This naming and shaming of the alleged perpetrators did not stop the ungodly act. In September 2022, COCOBOD and the Ghana Revenue Authority impounded 15 trucks of alleged smuggled cocoa fertilisers being repackaged for sale.

Moreover, farmers do not receive the relevant inputs at the required times making their applications unproductive. There have been cases of inputs delaying for up to 6 months or not being distributed at all and left to rot at warehouses.

The farmers pay for the inputs at source whether they receive it or not. Some farmers also refuse to pay the remainder of subsidised inputs, compounding COCOBOD’s debts. The Board owes agrochemical suppliers a whooping GHS4.5 billion (that is $400 million).

Despite the glaring inefficiencies, the government allocated GHS 5.1 billion to the distribution of free liquid and granular fertilisers, and mass spraying in the 2026 budget. In fact, COCOBOD began the 2025/26 cycle of mass spraying for disease control in April 2026 with the distribution of granular and liquid fertilisers scheduled for this month.

Recommendations

Considering the inefficiencies in Ghana’s input distribution system and drawing from best practices across the globe, we recommend the following:

1. COCOBOD should transition from the current inefficient model to a Regulatory-First Model where it acts as technical regulators while procurement and distribution is opened to private players in the cocoa value chain. That is, COCOBOD should set standards, accredit suppliers, and monitor performance instead of handling logistics. This will improve efficiency, allow farmers to treat their farms as businesses, and save the board from their recurring input procurement debts.
2. It is time to digitalise the input distribution system. The Board should leverage the Cocoa Management System (CMS) to make farm sizes and other farming conditions accessible to farmers and input suppliers through the QR codes on the farmers identification cards. This will ensure input tracking and real-time monitoring, improving efficiency and productivity.
3. The Board should promote transparency in the distribution of inputs to farmers. This can be done by publishing real-time input prices and approved suppliers to enable farmers to make informed choices.
4. Finally, the Board should develop a strong agro-dealer network including cooperatives and licensed buying companies across all cocoa growing communities to ensure timely and localised access.

Conclusion

Timely access to quality inputs is essential for the growth and long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector. The government, through COCOBOD, must urgently reform the current input distribution system to address persistent inefficiencies and delays. An efficient, well-targeted system will not only improve productivity and incomes for our over 800,000 cocoa farming households, but also strengthen Ghana’s export earnings and overall economic stability.

 Joel is a Snr. Research, M&E Officer, Akurase Mpuntuo Foundation and  Princess Owusu Boateng, is a Research Analyst, Akurase Mpuntuo Foundation

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