Ghana Cocoa Cooperative farmers reject 2025/26 price, demand urgent review

The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association (GCCFA) is dissatisfied with the newly announced producer price of cocoa for the 2025/2026 season.

It added that it falls far short of farmers’ expectations and threatens the future of the sector.

Government last week pegged the price at $5,040 per tonne, translating to GH¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag, but the Association insists the calculation—based on an FOB price of US$7,200 and an exchange rate of GHS10.25—does not reflect “current market realities and cost structures.”

In a statement signed by its National President, GCCFA said its research showed 67% of farmers believe a fair price should be between GH¢7,000 and GH¢10,000 per bag, while another 25% suggested between GH¢4,000 and GH¢6,000. Only 8% backed a price above GH¢10,000.

“We state unequivocally that government should have at least increased the price to no less than GHS 4,000 to help give cocoa farmers some relief and improve the sector,” the statement read.

The Association, which represents 70 cooperative unions with over 340,000 members across Ghana’s cocoa regions, warned that the current pricing regime risks worsening challenges in the industry, including high input costs, farm neglect, youth disinterest, and smuggling.

According to GCCFA, 79% of farmers identified low prices as a key driver of smuggling, while 83% said a significant price increase would improve their ability to buy fertilisers and pesticides.

Others cited rising labour and transportation costs, as well as pressure from illegal mining operators to sell their farms.

The Association is demanding greater farmer involvement in cocoa price-setting, transparent communication before announcements, and channelling of subsidised inputs through farmer cooperatives.

“The government’s agenda to reset the country should be encompassing to include the cocoa sector,” GCCFA urged, calling for an urgent dialogue between COCOBOD, government stakeholders, and cocoa farmers to address the challenges.

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