The Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) has expressed deep disappointment over the government’s newly announced cocoa producer price for the 2025/2026 season, describing the increment as “insufficient to transform the livelihoods of cocoa farmers meaningfully.”
In a statement issued in Accra, the GCCP said the announcement exposes a glaring disparity between the price in foreign currency and its equivalent in Ghana cedis, raising doubts about the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of cocoa farmers.
Foreign price soars, local gains minimal
The government’s declaration of a new price of $5,040 per metric tonne represents a 62% jump from last season’s $3,100. However, in local currency, the increment is a marginal 4.1% — moving from GH₵3,100 to GH₵3,228.75 per 64-kilogramme bag.
According to the GCCP, this small local currency increase does little to cushion farmers against the harsh economic climate.
“This disparity makes it clear that farmers are not reaping the full benefits of favourable global market trends,” the platform stated.
Broken promises on global price share
The group further accused the government of shifting away from previous commitments. Both the President and the Minister of Agriculture had promised that farmers would receive at least 70% of the global market price.
However, the Minister of Finance’s recent announcement instead referenced the lower Free on Board (FoB) price, a move the GCCP said undermines transparency and trust in the pricing mechanism.
Persistent challenges threaten sector
Despite the new price and the reintroduction of certain support measures, cocoa farmers continue to face a litany of challenges. Rising production costs for inputs and labour, worsening climate change impacts, and market instability — worsened by cross-border smuggling — remain serious obstacles.
While welcoming the launch of the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System, the GCCP cautioned against politicising such programmes.
The group cited past instances where party operatives interfered with the distribution of farming inputs and expressed concern that many farmers remain unprepared for compliance with the European Union’s new Deforestation Regulation.
Calls for mid-term price reviews and stronger support
To address the sector’s structural weaknesses, the GCCP urged the government to introduce mid-term cocoa price reviews to reflect global market fluctuations and discourage smuggling.
It also advocated for strengthened support to local Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) and strategic investments in farmer education, rural infrastructure, input affordability, and climate resilience initiatives.
Commitment to collaboration
The GCCP reaffirmed its commitment to working with government stakeholders to champion policies that protect farmers’ rights and promote sustainable growth.
“We remain dedicated to securing a dignified and resilient future for Ghana’s cocoa farmers,” the statement concluded.
