ACCRA – The Ghanaian government has announced a significant increase in the producer price of cocoa for the 2025/2026 season, raising it from $3,100 to $5,040 per tonne. This marks a 62.58% increase in U.S. dollar terms and aligns with President Mahama’s promise to pay cocoa farmers 70% of the Free-On-Board (FOB) price. The new price, which takes effect on Thursday, August 7, 2025, translates to GHS51,660 per tonne, or GHS3,228.75 per 64-kilogram bag, at an average exchange rate of GHS10.25 to the dollar.
The government, through the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC), stated that the new price represents 70% of the gross FOB value of $7,200 per tonne. This contrasts with the previous administration’s price of $3,100 per tonne, which represented 63.9% of the FOB value for the 2024/25 season.
In addition to the price increase, the government introduced several new initiatives. A Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme for the children of cocoa farmers will be implemented by COCOBOD, the Ghana Cocoa Board, starting in the 2026/27 academic year. The government will also roll out a Ghana Cocoa Traceability System to ensure compliance with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulations, effective December 31, 2025. This system will allow cocoa to be traced from its farm of origin to the port of shipment.
Furthermore, the government announced a new focus for COCOBOD, restricting its activities to its core mandate of increasing cocoa yields and improving the value chain. The Ghana Cocoa Board Act will be amended to prohibit the organization from engaging in “quasi-fiscal activities,” and all ongoing cocoa road projects will be transferred to the Ministry of Roads and Highways. The government expressed confidence in the new leadership of COCOBOD to restore the cocoa industry’s prominence.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
