The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has questioned the government’s GH¢2,650 cocoa producer price for the 2026/27 season, accusing the government of shortchanging cocoa farmers and demanding greater transparency in the pricing formula.
The NPP has raised concerns over the cocoa producer price announced by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for the 2026/27 cocoa season, arguing that the GH¢2,650 per 64-kilogramme bag does not adequately reflect the international value of Ghana’s cocoa.
The new cocoa producer price, announced on September 25, 2026, increased from GH¢41,392 per tonne in the previous season to GH¢42,400 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,650 per 64kg bag. The increase represents 2.4 percent.
Also read: Sissala West MP appeals for calm after Buo–Tiwii land dispute claims two lives
In a press statement, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku, Co-Chair of the NPP Policy Committee on Agriculture, described the new cocoa producer price as unfair and accused the government of failing to meet promises made to cocoa farmers during the 2024 election campaign.
“The producer price for the 2026/27 season is now GH¢2,650, an increase of GH¢63. This is a complete deceit, an all-time ‘FRAKADAM’ of our cocoa farmers,” Dr Opoku said.
He recalled that leading NDC figures, including President John Dramani Mahama and current ministers, promised cocoa farmers a producer price of GH¢6,000 per bag during the 2024 campaign.
Dr Opoku also criticised the reduction of the cocoa producer price to GH¢2,587 during the 2026 light crop season, after the government had announced GH¢3,625 per bag for the 2025/26 season.
“The slash of GH¢1,038 per bag of cocoa was arbitrary and unlawful,” he alleged.
A major part of the NPP’s argument concerns Article 57 of the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), which provides that the cocoa producer price for a crop season should not be less than 70 percent of the realised Gross Free-on-Board (FOB) price.
COCOBOD, however, says the GH¢42,400 per tonne price represents 71.18 percent of the realised Gross FOB value, translating to GH¢2,650 per 64kg bag. The Board said the price followed consultations involving relevant stakeholders and took effect on September 25, 2026.
Dr Opoku questioned the Gross FOB figure used by COCOBOD and argued that the calculation should consider the international cocoa price and the US$400 Living Income Differential.
Using an assumed cocoa price of US$5,500 per tonne, he calculated a potential 70 percent producer share of approximately GH¢2,968 per bag at an exchange rate of GH¢11.50 to US$1.
“It is clear that our cherished farmers have been shortchanged by a whopping GH¢318 on every bag of cocoa,” he said.
The NPP also raised concerns about reported outstanding payments to cocoa farmers and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs).
Dr Opoku questioned whether outstanding obligations from the previous crop season could affect the timely payment of farmers during the 2026/27 season.
“The cocoa farmer is not asking for charity. The farmer is rather asking for fairness, certainty, timely payment and transparent marketing,” he said.
COCOBOD has previously stated that it released GH¢2.6 billion to LBCs in July 2026 to support payments to cocoa farmers, including about GH¢1.4 billion earmarked to clear balances owed by LBCs for cocoa purchased on credit.
The NPP called on the government and COCOBOD to publish a clear explanation of the computation behind the GH¢2,650 cocoa producer price.
“Government must pay without further delay, the shave-off and all arrears owed to farmers and Licensed Buying Companies,” Dr Opoku said.
The 2026/27 cocoa season has been opened under the new Ghana Cocoa Board Act, which COCOBOD says introduces reforms aimed at strengthening the financial sustainability and governance of the cocoa sector while guaranteeing farmers at least 70 percent of realised Gross FOB value.