The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is set to announce a new cocoa producer price for the 2026/2027 season. This development comes as the country prepares for the upcoming cocoa season and addresses liquidity challenges facing the sector. The current price for the 2025/2026 crop season stands at GH₵3,625 per bag, equivalent to GH₵58,000 per tonne. This represents a 12.27 per cent increase over the previous year's price.
In preparation for the 2026/2027 season, COCOBOD engaged with leading international cocoa trading companies in London. The new price announcement 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 aims to secure financing for the upcoming cocoa season.
The government has disclosed its intention to reintroduce free fertilisers aimed at supporting farmers to increase production. Finance Minister, Dr. Ato Forson, announced that President John Mahama’s administration will supply free cocoa fertilisers, free insecticides, free spraying machines, free fungicides, and free flower inducers to farmers. This initiative is an additional support to the Ghanaian cocoa farmer, beginning the 2025/2026 crop year.
The reintroduction of free fertilisers is part of the government's efforts to support farmers. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Her Excellency Imane Ouaadil, handed over 2,000 tons of fertilizer to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The fertilizer was donated to Ghana by the Kingdom of Morocco during the official visit of Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa to Morocco.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has noted that the absence of a single chemical fertiliser plant in Ghana is having an adverse impact on crop production and the contribution of the agricultural sector to the country’s economy. The sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP declined from 26.9% in 2010 to 22.7% in 2023. The Institute has entreated the government to allocate significant funding to establish a fertiliser manufacturing plant.
COCOBOD has noted that it would not secure any syndicated loan to finance cocoa purchases for the 2025/26 crop season. The decision was informed by the global shortage of cocoa beans. The Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Jerome Kwaku Sam, stated that the Board had not sought syndicated financing for the 2024/2025 season and had no intention of doing so this year.
The new cocoa producer price announcement is expected to bring relief to cocoa farmers. The government has cautioned farmers against smuggling, advising them to apply the inputs solely for the purpose of improving cocoa yield and their income. With the 2026/2027 season approaching, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the new price will impact the sector.
Key points
- The Ghana Cocoa Board will announce a new cocoa producer price for the 2026/2027 season.
- The government has reintroduced free fertilisers to support cocoa farmers.
- COCOBOD will not secure a syndicated loan for the 2025/26 crop season due to the global cocoa shortage.
