The International Finance Corporation (IFC), working closely with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Ministry of Finance, has injected more than US$100 million into Ghana’s cocoa sector, with total support expected to reach US$300 million this year, in a major effort to stabilise the country’s cocoa supply chain.
The intervention was disclosed by IFC Senior Country Manager Kyle Kelhofer during an appearance on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, where he outlined the growing financial pressures facing the cocoa industry and the measures being taken to sustain it.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, depends on a tightly coordinated financing structure to move cocoa beans from farm gates to export markets. Recent delays in expected funding from COCOBOD have placed significant strain on Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), forcing many to self-finance their operations and raising concerns about potential disruptions across the supply chain.
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To prevent such disruptions, the IFC stepped in, working with local banks, regulators, the central bank, and the Ministry of Finance to channel funding—largely in local currency—so LBCs could continue purchasing cocoa without interruption.
“We’ve tried to step in, including with some support from the regulators, the central bank and the Ministry of Finance,” Kelhofer said, underscoring the level of coordination behind the intervention.
He explained that the support is designed not only to keep LBCs operational, but also to protect farmers at the farm gate by ensuring competition among buyers and maintaining fair pricing.
“And so we’re proud to have provided over $100 million and maybe up to $300 million this year to help ensure that the whole cocoa supply chain remains viable and that farmers at the farm gate are seeing all the LBCs and getting as price competitive and the best return possible,” he added.
The funding provides much-needed breathing space for LBCs grappling with liquidity constraints, while offering reassurance to cocoa farmers that their beans will continue to be purchased promptly and at competitive prices.
For Ghana, cocoa remains a cornerstone of export earnings and rural livelihoods, supporting hundreds of thousands of farming households. Any breakdown in the purchasing and financing chain risks not only export revenues but also social stability in cocoa-growing regions.
Industry analysts say the IFC-led intervention highlights the growing role of development finance institutions in buffering critical sectors during periods of fiscal and market stress. By coordinating with national authorities, the support helps sustain confidence in the cocoa market at a time when global prices, domestic financing conditions, and institutional reforms are all in flux.
As the year progresses, the effectiveness of the programme will be closely watched, particularly whether the expanded funding envelope translates into smoother operations for LBCs and improved income security for farmers. For now, the intervention has provided a vital lifeline to one of Ghana’s most strategically important sectors.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on March 9, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
