The Ghana Civil Cocoa Platform (GCCP) has raised critical concerns over COCOBOD’s reported intention to maintain current cocoa prices, despite rising global demand and input costs. According to the GCCP, such a move could severely impact farmers who are already grappling with inflation, labor shortages, and poor farm gate earnings.
The Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) has raised concerns over reports suggesting that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) may maintain the current cocoa producer price of GHS 3,100 per 64kg bag for the 2025/2026 season. The concerns follow the circulation of a letter on social media purportedly indicating that producer prices will remain unchanged, sparking calls for clarity and transparency from COCOBOD.
According to the letter allegedly signed by COCOBOD’s Acting Deputy CEO, Dr. James Kutsoati the decision is aimed at ensuring long-term stability and sustainability within the cocoa industry. But the GCCP has responded with fierce criticism, arguing that the move betrays earlier political pledges to raise cocoa prices and improve farmers‘ livelihoods.
Dr. James Kutsoati
In an interview with GhanaWeb Business, GCCP Co-Coordinator Obed Owusu-Addai described the alleged price freeze as a “betrayal of trust,” especially in light of the government‘s prior promise to guarantee farmers at least 70% of the international market price.
“Given current global cocoa prices, farmers should be earning around GHS 6,000 per bag not half that,” he emphasized.
However, in a surprising turn, COCOBOD has issued an official statement urging the public, media, and stakeholders to disregard the circulating reports, stating categorically that no decision has yet been made regarding the producer price for the upcoming season. The Board clarified that the institutional structures and stakeholder consultations required to approve a new price are still ongoing, and any figures being circulated are unsubstantiated.
GCCP warned that even the perception of a price freeze could undermine farmer morale and threaten future cocoa output. “Such uncertainty creates anxiety and disrupts planning for thousands of cocoa producers. It risks triggering a production slump and damaging Ghana’s global standing in the cocoa market,” Owusu-Addai warned.
The cocoa sector, which remains a vital pillar of Ghana’s economy, now finds itself at a crossroads with trust, livelihoods, and future yields all hanging in the balance.
Last Updated on April 11, 2025 by samboad
