President John Dramani Mahama has assured cocoa farmers that ongoing reforms in the sector will deliver long-term transformation and guarantee fair and competitive prices.
The assurance follows government’s decision to reduce the cocoa producer price to GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag, for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season.
Speaking during his 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Friday, February 27, President Mahama described the price adjustment as a difficult but necessary measure taken in the national interest.
He acknowledged the concerns and protests from cocoa farmers following the announcement but explained that the move was intended to stabilise the cocoa sector and protect the broader economy.
According to the President, failure to implement the price reduction could have jeopardised recent economic gains and risked returning the country to the financial difficulties it has only recently emerged from.
President Mahama stressed that the reforms being introduced in the cocoa sector are designed to strengthen operations, improve efficiency, and ensure that farmers can meet production costs while earning reasonable returns.
“While fully understanding the concerns and protest of our farmers, I can firmly assure them that the reforms by government will see a total transformation of the cocoa sector,” he said.
He further assured farmers that government’s interventions would guarantee a fair and transparent pricing system that allows producers to cover their costs and make decent margins.
“The difference between economic hardship and avoiding the same is the exercise of sound economic judgement. I am determined to take decisions that ensure our collective wellbeing and avoid the sufferings of all our citizens. These are decisions to take but Mr. Speaker, I had to take them,” he added.
The President maintained that the reforms form part of broader efforts to safeguard Ghana’s economic stability while positioning the cocoa sector for sustainable growth.
