• Ghana will introduce a scholarship program for children of cocoa farmers starting in 2026.
• COCOBOD will manage the initiative, with first awards set for the 2026/2027 academic year.
• The program aims to reduce school dropout rates and support rural families in cocoa areas.

The government of Ghana has announced a new university scholarship program for children of cocoa farmers. The initiative will begin with the 2025/2026 cocoa season, and the first scholarships will be awarded for the 2026/2027 academic year. Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) will be responsible for setting the program’s terms and handling implementation.

In rural cocoa-growing regions, many children leave school as early as primary or junior high due to financial pressure. A report released in 2023 by the University of Chicago and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) estimated that about 765,000 children were involved in cocoa farming during the 2018/2019 season. Of that number, over 713,000 were engaged in hazardous work, including exposure to pesticides, carrying heavy loads, and using machetes.

Despite government efforts to improve basic education, including investments in school infrastructure, access to secondary and higher education remains limited for rural families. Transportation, school supplies, and other related costs still pose major obstacles, even when tuition is officially free.

On May 29, Ghana signed an $80 million agreement with the SCALE initiative, backed by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), to support the GALOP program. GALOP focuses on improving education quality and access across the country.