The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticised the government’s decision to slash the cocoa producer price, calling the move unfair to farmers and detrimental to Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, expressed outrage at the decision, describing it as unprecedented.
He warned that the reduction could undermine the forward sales system, a mechanism designed to protect farmers from volatile global market prices.
Farmgate Prices Slashed
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced that the price of a bag of cocoa has been reduced from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587, translating into a loss of GH¢1,038 per bag, or 28.6%.
Similarly, the price of a tonne of cocoa has fallen from GH¢58,000 to GH¢41,392, a decline of GH¢16,608, also around 28.6%.
“This has never happened. Why are we treating cocoa farmers this way? The cocoa farmer has never enjoyed the full benefit of the FOB price. Cocoa farmers have sacrificed for this country,” Dr. Opoku told the media.
Calls for broader accountability
Dr. Opoku also demanded that public sector salaries be reduced proportionally to reflect the decline in cocoa farmgate prices.
“If the cocoa farmer’s price is going to be reduced by almost 30%, then everybody’s pay in this country should also be slashed by that margin. Is the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD’s salary and allowance going to be reduced by the same margin? Today is a sad day for the country. The President should come again. Cocoa farmers deserve better,” he stated.
Govt defends reduction
The criticism follows the government’s announcement that the producer price per tonne will drop from GH¢51,660 to GH¢41,392 for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season.
Officials say the adjustment is aimed at stabilising the cocoa sector amid falling international prices and financial pressures, while ensuring farmers owed payments receive immediate relief.
