The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited (GCCFA) has voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s newly announced cocoa price for the 2025/2026 season, describing it as inadequate to meet the needs of cocoa farmers and the realities of the sector.

The new cocoa price is set at US$5,040 per tonne, translating to GH¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag.

However, the GCCFA argues in a statement on September 1, 2025, that the price-setting process failed to reflect the actual Free on Board (FOB) price of cocoa and the prevailing exchange rate, which they say undercuts farmers’ incomes.

The GCCFA serves as the umbrella body for 70 cooperative cocoa farmer unions across Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions, representing 340,000 farmers in Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Western, Western North, Volta, Bono and Ahafo regions.

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While acknowledging government and COCOBOD initiatives to support cocoa farmers, GCCFA expressed disappointment over the pricing decision, stating that recent government reassurances raised expectations for a more significant price increase.

According to GCCFA’s research, "67% of cocoa farmers surveyed believe a fair price would range between GH¢7,000 and GH¢10,000 per 64kg bag.

"25% favour a price between GH¢4,000 and GH¢6,000.

"8% support a price of GH¢10,000 or more."

"By contrast, the announced price represents only a modest adjustment from GH¢3,100 in 2024/2025 to GH¢3,228.75 in 2025/2026, despite significant changes in exchange rates and rising production costs.

“The government should have at least increased the price to no less than GH¢4,000 to give cocoa farmers some relief and improve the sector,” GCCFA stated.

The association highlighted that labour, transportation, and farm maintenance costs have tripled in recent years, partly due to illegal mining activities (galamsey) and inflation. The current price, they argue, is insufficient to:

Purchase necessary farm inputs, tools and machinery among other essentials

“We remain open to dialogue and collaboration to move the cocoa sector forward,” the statement added.



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