Local cocoa farmers have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s newly announced producer price for the 2025/2026 season, describing it as inadequate and falling short of their expectations.
The government on Monday approved a significant increase in the producer price, raising it from US$3,100 to US$5,040 per tonne, effective Thursday, August 7, 2025. Using the prevailing average exchange rate of GH¢10.25 to the US dollar, the new price translates to GH¢51,660 per tonne or GH¢3,228.75 per 64‑kilogramme bag.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who announced the increment, explained that it represents a 62.58% increase in dollar terms and delivers on President John Mahama’s pledge to ensure cocoa farmers receive 70% of the Free‑On‑Board (FOB) value.
But in an interview, the President of the Mankrong Cocoa Cooperative Farmers Association, Francis Teinor, said the figure still falls short of farmers’ expectations.
“Cocoa farmers across the country were expecting something higher than the figure announced by the government. So as at now, no farmer in Ghana will be happy with the new price,” Teinor stated.
He added that while farmers acknowledge the economic challenges facing the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), they had hoped for a rate closer to GH¢3,500 per bag.
“Although the challenge in the system and the indicators don’t favour COCOBOD, we were still agitating for more than what was announced. We were expecting around GH¢3,500 per bag,” he concluded.