The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced a new producer price for cocoa, set at GHS42,400 per tonne for the 2026/27 season. This represents a 2.5% increase from the previous season's price of GHS41,392 per tonne. The new price is equivalent to 71.18% of the realised gross free-on-board (FOB) value of cocoa. A 64-kilogramme bag of cocoa will now sell at GHS2,650.
According to COCOBOD Chief Executive Dr. Randy Abbey, the decision to increase the producer price was made after a meeting with the Minister of Finance, cocoa farmers, and the Chamber of Cocoa Marketers. The meeting aimed to address the needs of cocoa farmers and ensure a smooth start to the new season. The new price gives farmers an extra GHS1,008 per tonne over last season's price.
The announcement comes as efforts intensify to secure financing for the upcoming cocoa season and address liquidity challenges facing the sector. COCOBOD has engaged with leading international cocoa trading companies in London to secure financing for the new season. The 2025/2026 crop season price was GH₵3,625 per bag, equivalent to GH₵58,000 per tonne, representing a 12.27% increase over the previous season's price.
The upward adjustment for 2026/2027 is believed to be an effort to match local prices with gains in the global cocoa market. COCOBOD has expressed its commitment to ensuring that cocoa farmers receive a meaningful and fair boost in their income, despite the hike in the dollar. The board is working to ensure that farmers benefit from the increased price.
In a related development, the government has disclosed its intention to reintroduce free fertilisers to support farmers to increase production. Finance Minister, Dr. Ato Forson, announced that President John Mahama's administration will supply free cocoa fertilisers, insecticides, spraying machines, fungicides, and flower inducers to farmers. The initiative aims to support farmers to increase their yield and income.
The government has also received a donation of 2,000 tons of fertilizer, equivalent to 40,000 bags, from the Kingdom of Morocco. The fertilizer was handed over to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Her Excellency Imane Ouaadil. The donation is part of the two countries' commitment to sustainable agriculture and food security.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, received the donated fertilizers on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku. He expressed gratitude to the Moroccan government for the donation and assured that farmers will receive the fertilizers to aid crop production. The Ministry of Agriculture will ensure that the fertilizers get to the deserving farmers as soon as possible.
Key points
- The new producer price for cocoa in Ghana has been set at GHS42,400 per tonne for the 2026/27 season.
- The government has reintroduced free fertilisers to support farmers to increase production.
- Ghana received a donation of 2,000 tons of fertilizer from the Kingdom of Morocco to support sustainable agriculture and food security.
