Cocoa farmers across Ghana are intensifying calls for the government to guarantee at least 70% of the Free-On-Board (FOB) price as payment to local producers.
The renewed push follows a recent promise by former President John Dramani Mahama, who, during a Thank You tour in the Ahafo Region, announced that a new and enhanced cocoa producer price would be introduced in August 2025.
While the announcement is seen as a positive step, leaders within the cocoa farming community remain cautious, urging the government to uphold constitutional provisions and ensure that farmers are fairly compensated for their contribution to Ghana’s global cocoa dominance.
The President of the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association, Stephenson Anane Boateng, warned against neglecting smallholder farmers in favor of large-scale commercial ventures that, he argues, lack long-term strategic planning.
Referring to past state-led farming projects that failed to endure, he advised that future policies must prioritize sustainability and equity.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, heavily depends on the welfare of its cocoa farmers for economic stability, and any misalignment in pricing or policy risks undermining this critical sector.
