By: Gloria Anderson
The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited (GCCFA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s newly announced cocoa producer price for the 2025/2026 season, describing it as inadequate to sustain farmers and the cocoa sector.
The government, through COCOBOD, announced a new price of GHS 3,228.75 per 64kg bag (equivalent to US$5,040 per tonne). However, the GCCFA — an umbrella body representing 70 cooperative cocoa farmer unions with over 340,000 members across Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions — insists the new rate falls short of farmer expectations and current market realities.
According to the Association, the price was set using an FOB value of US$7,200 and an exchange rate of GHS 10.25 to US$1, figures they argue do not reflect the actual global cocoa market or local cost structures.
“Government should have at least increased the price to no less than GHS 4,000 per bag to bring some relief to farmers,” the statement noted, adding that recent hikes in labour, transportation, and input costs have made cocoa farming increasingly unsustainable.
A GCCFA survey revealed that:
67% of farmers believe a fair price lies between GHS 7,000 and GHS 10,000 per bag.
25% support a price between GHS 4,000 and GHS 6,000.
8% expect GHS 10,000 or more.
The Association warned that the current pricing could discourage youth from cocoa farming, fuel smuggling, and increase pressure from illegal mining operators (galamsey) seeking to buy cocoa farms. Other challenges farmers face include difficulties in purchasing inputs, rising household costs, delays in farm maintenance, and late payment of farm workers.
The GCCFA is therefore calling on government to:
Involve farmer cooperatives in price-setting discussions.
Ensure transparent communication and regular consultations before price announcements.
Channel the distribution of farming inputs through cooperative associations for efficiency.
The Association urged government and COCOBOD to engage cocoa farmers in urgent dialogue to address the sector’s challenges.
“The agenda to reset the country must include cocoa farmers,” GCCFA stressed. “We remain open to collaboration and dialogue to move the cocoa sector ahead.”
