Cocoa farmers across the country are calling for urgent government intervention following the reduction of the producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogramme bag.
Authorities have attributed the decision to falling global cocoa prices, but the move has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among farmers, many of whom describe it as a threat to livelihoods and rural economic stability.
Dr. Frank Awuah, a lecturer at Dambai College of Education and aspiring Oti Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), questioned whether earlier promises to significantly increase cocoa producer prices were grounded in sound economic projections or driven by political considerations.
He expressed concern about what he described as the government’s responsiveness to the plight of cocoa farmers during periods of economic difficulty.
Dr. Awuah noted that producer prices had recorded consistent increases over the past three crop seasons before the recent reduction.
During the 2023/2024 crop season, the price opened at GH¢1,308 per bag and later rose to GH¢2,070, representing a 58.26 percent increase.
In the 2024/2025 season, it started at GH¢3,000, was adjusted to GH¢3,100, and eventually climbed to GH¢3,625 per bag.
However, for the 2025/2026 crop season, government announced a reduction to GH¢2,587 per bag, citing a sharp decline in global cocoa prices and a reported 70 percent drop in market value.
While acknowledging the impact of global market dynamics, Dr. Awuah argued that the socio-economic consequences for cocoa-dependent communities must not be overlooked.
He drew comparisons with policy measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic under the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, when public sector salaries were maintained despite fiscal pressures and reduced economic activity.
According to him, Ghana’s gold reserves increased significantly during that period, reportedly rising from about eight tonnes to 30.5 tonnes by January 2024 and later to 37.5 tonnes. He claimed that portions of the reserves were later sold to support the cedi.
Dr. Awuah questioned whether similar interventions could have been considered to cushion cocoa farmers against the impact of declining global prices.
He suggested that government could have maintained the GH¢3,625 per bag rate or introduced targeted support measures to protect farmer incomes.
Meanwhile, some cocoa farmers from the Western North Region have travelled to Accra to protest at the headquarters of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), pressing for a review of the new producer price.
Dr. Awuah said the demonstrations reflected deep frustration within the cocoa sector and cautioned against dismissing the concerns as politically motivated.
He appealed to government and relevant authorities to engage stakeholders constructively and address the underlying economic challenges facing cocoa farmers in order to restore confidence and stability in the industry.
Ghana remains one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, with the crop serving as a key source of foreign exchange and income for hundreds of thousands of households.
