Majority accuses former NPP government of misusing $600m cocoa sector loan

The Majority in Parliament has accused the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of misusing a US$600 million facility secured from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for cocoa sector development.

According to the caucus, the funds were approved by Parliament to expand cocoa farms, plant new trees, conduct farm surveys, construct warehouses and increase cocoa yields.

However, it claimed the objectives were never achieved, contributing to a sharp decline in Ghana's cocoa production.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor alleged that the previous administration failed to utilise the funds for their intended purpose.

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He said cocoa production fell from about one million metric tonnes annually to approximately 450,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2024, resulting in job losses across the cocoa value chain.

“The NPP government, led by the Majority Leader at the time, came to this House to secure US$600 million from the African Development Bank. The purpose was to expand cocoa farms, plant new trees, survey the farms, build warehouses and increase yield. It wasn't done,” he said.

Dafeamekpor further alleged that the failure to implement the projects had severe consequences for the sector.

“At the end of 2024, our cocoa yield plummeted from one million metric tonnes a year to 450,000. Jobs were not created. People lost jobs. Across the supply chain, many businesses suffered. They chopped the money,” he alleged.

MRA/MA

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