Cocoa farmers back new producer price and sector reforms

The Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE) has thrown its full support behind the government’s recent upward adjustment of the cocoa producer price for the 2025/2026 crop season.

At a press conference in Accra under the theme “Supporting Ghana’s Cocoa Vision – A United Voice of the Farmer,” COCOSHE praised the government and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for what it called a fair and progressive decision aimed at protecting farmers’ livelihoods.

The National President of COCOSHE, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, lauded the increase in the producer price from GH¢3,100 to GH¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag, which translates to GH¢51,660 per tonne. The new price constitutes 70 per cent of the achieved Free-on-Board (FoB) price—an improvement on last season’s 63.9 per cent share. “In many other producing countries, the price would have been slashed. But here, the Government and COCOBOD chose instead to protect farmers,” Alhaji Bukari stated, highlighting the administration’s sensitivity to economic pressures, including the recent appreciation of the cedi against the dollar.

COCOSHE also praised the transparent process that led to the price announcement. According to the association, four farmer representatives participated in the Producer Price Review Committee, while COCOBOD engaged with regional heads of COCOSHE across the country. “We appreciate the transparency shown. This was not a backroom decision,” Bukari noted.

In addition to the price adjustment, COCOSHE expressed strong support for a range of initiatives introduced by government and COCOBOD to revitalise the cocoa sector. These include the free distribution of fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, flower inducers and spraying machines starting in the 2025/2026 season; the launch of the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System to align with global regulations, particularly the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation; and the introduction of a tertiary scholarship scheme for children of cocoa farmers, which begins in the 2026/2027 academic year.

The association also welcomed the transfer of the cocoa roads portfolio from COCOBOD to the Ministry of Roads and Highways. According to COCOSHE, this move will allow COCOBOD to focus on its primary mandate of promoting and regulating the cocoa sector.

Alhaji Bukari extended special appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for initiating the scholarship scheme, calling it a “beacon of hope” for rural families striving to access higher education.

While commending these developments, the association urged COCOBOD to ensure timely delivery of farm inputs and to improve farmer education on the new traceability system. It also called for greater clarity on pricing and exchange rate mechanisms.

Alhaji Bukari dismissed suggestions of unrest or dissatisfaction within the farming community, stressing that cocoa farmers are active partners in Ghana’s development agenda. “We are not here to protest. We are here to commend,” he said. “Ghanaian cocoa farmers are patriotic and hardworking. Our vision is to see cocoa farmers recognized not just as producers, but as agents of economic transformation.”

COCOSHE concluded with a call for unity and continued collaboration among cocoa farmers, COCOBOD and the state, encouraging all stakeholders to maintain focus and momentum towards a sustainable and prosperous cocoa sector.