The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has pushed back strongly against growing threats by some frustrated cocoa farmers to smuggle their beans across Ghana’s borders.
COCOBOD says that on pure economic grounds, smuggling of Ghana’s cocoa beans to neighbouring countries will not be beneficial and makes no economic sense.
Addressing concerns over delayed payments to some farmers, the Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Jerome Kweku Sam, acknowledged the frustration but rejected the idea that farmers would gain anything by selling their cocoa outside Ghana.
For him, the idea is to smuggle to gain a benefit. However, at current prices, Ghana’s cocoa beans remain the highest-priced on the African continent.
According to COCOBOD’s own analysis by its Commodity Analysis Team (August 2025), cited by The High Street Journal, Ghana currently offers farmers the most competitive farmgate prices in the sub-region.
It is well ahead of neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer.
Under Ghana’s official pricing structure, farmers earn GH₵3,228.75 per 64kg bag, equivalent to GH₵51,660 per tonne or about US$5,040 per metric tonne. In contrast, farmers in Côte d’Ivoire receive GH₵2,553.38 per 64kg bag, translating to GH₵40,854 per tonne or roughly US$3,886 per tonne.
The difference is striking. According to COCOBOD, for every 64kg bag, a Ghanaian farmer earns GH₵675.38 more, or about US$64 extra, than their Ivorian counterpart. On a tonne basis, the advantage widens to over GH₵10,800, equivalent to US$1,154, firmly in favour of Ghanaian farmers.
Put simply, on a per-kilo basis, cocoa farmers in Ghana earn about GH₵51.65 (US$5.04), compared to GH₵40.85 (US$3.89) across the border.
COCOBOD says these figures decisively correct the narrative that farmers would be better off smuggling their produce. “There is no price parity, and certainly no disadvantage,” COCOBOD’s official page argues.
“Ghana’s farm-gate price is not only higher, it is also the most competitive in the sub-region,” COCOBOD added.
Beyond the numbers, COCOBOD warns that smuggling carries real risks for farmers, including loss of guaranteed prices, exposure to exploitation by middlemen, and legal consequences. Ghana’s cocoa marketing system, the Board insists, was designed to shield farmers from exactly those vulnerabilities.
However, critics believe that the current pertinent issue is not about high prices but about delayed payments, as some farmers are in dire need of money. This is what makes the smuggling for easy and quick payment attractive to the farmers.
COCOBOD says the delays are mainly linked to specific Licensed Buying Companies, which remain a serious concern. It has assured farmers that efforts are underway to address the situation.
