The Minority Caucus in Ghana has accused the government of short-changing cocoa farmers after a reduction in the producer price from GH¢51,660 to GH¢41,392 per tonne for the rest of the 2025/26 season. Producer price, also called the farmgate price, is the fixed rate per tonne that the state pays farmers for cocoa beans. The cut equals about 28.6%. It follows weeks of payment delays and a build-up of unsold beans.
Minority denounces price cut and demands leadership change
At a press conference in Parliament of Ghana, MPs urged the dismissal of the Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Ransford Anertey “Randy” Abbey. They also called for an immediate restoration of the former GH¢51,660 rate. The caucus argued that government should absorb sector cost pressures instead of passing them to farmers.
Figures behind the new rate
Officials set the new price at GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per 64-kg bag. The change reverses the GH¢51,660 (GH¢3,625 per bag) announced at the start of the crop year. Authorities say the move aligns farmgate payments with recent market conditions. However, farmer groups and opposition MPs warn that lower pay risks hurting livelihoods and discouraging new entrants.
What sparked the policy shift
International prices have fallen sharply from 2025 peaks, leaving stocks idle and Licensed Buying Companies struggling to pay. Reuters reported unsold volumes at ports and widespread arrears to growers. In response, the government unveiled a financing plan anchored on domestic “cocoa bonds” and signalled legislation to tie farmgate prices to a share of the Free-on-Board benchmark.
Political claims and reform timeline
Minority MPs, including Mohammed Amin Adam and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the administration failed to execute a turnaround plan inherited from the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, designed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They cited delays on pricing legislation, cost-cutting, and procurement reforms. The caucus urged emergency liquidity support for COCOBOD to clear arrears while a transparent pricing framework is debated.
COCOBOD and leadership context
COCOBOD manages cocoa marketing, quality control, and farmer payments. Its leadership has come under scrutiny amid the payment backlog and price reset. Dr. Randy Abbey, named acting chief executive in January 2025, now faces calls for removal from Minority MPs and some policy analysts. The Presidency has not announced any change.
Ghana’s 2025/26 cocoa season now enters a sensitive phase. The producer-price rollback may ease short-term financing strains, yet it heightens political pressure to protect farmer incomes. The shape and timing of the proposed pricing bill—and any stop-gap funding for arrears—will determine how fast confidence returns across the cocoa chain.
