Ghanaian cocoa farmers are protesting what they described as complete betrayal by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) following a massive reduction in the producer price of cocoa that will negatively affect their livelihoods.
The government reduced the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,625.00 to GH¢2,587.00 per bag for the rest of the 2025/2026 crop season, representing a 28.6 per cent cut.
The new price, effective February 12, 2026, is GH¢2,587.00 per bag and GH¢41,392.00 per tonne.
Consequently, cocoa farmers from the Western North Region on Friday petitioned the government at the Cocoa Marketing Board Headquarters in Accra to reverse the recent producer price reduction.
Carrying placards, the farmers chanted songs to express their displeasure and grief.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “Government celebrates, but our families mourn.”
“How can GH¢2,587.00 be better than GH¢3,100.00”, “Cocoa is sweet, but our lives are bitter,” and “Our children are in the house; we cannot afford to pay their school fees.”
According to the visibly disappointed farmers, the NDC, while in opposition, promised cocoa farmers a better offer during its campaign but disappointed them after the 2024 general election.
“NDC promised to increase the producer price of cocoa from GH¢3,100 set by the Akufo-Addo government to at least GH¢6,000 per bag. In government, the NDC only increased the price to GH¢3,625, only to reduce it below what the previous government gave us. This is a complete betrayal of our trust.
“If nothing at all, the government should maintain the old price rather than slashing it. We are not asking much but at least restore the old price,” an aggrieved cocoa farmer, Mr Richard Asante, stated.
He bemoaned that this action by the Mahama administration will discourage many youth who have taken up farming as their profession.
Mahama’s earlier promise
President Mahama had earlier encouraged Ghanaians to go into cocoa farming because the producer price of cocoa would be significantly increased.
Speaking during his Thank You tour in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, May 31, 2025, President Mahama assured cocoa farmers of his administration’s commitment to revitalising the cocoa sector, which he said has faced significant setbacks in recent years.
“Plans are underway to revamp the collapsed cocoa sector.
“Incentives will be provided to our hardworking farmers to increase cocoa production. We aim to add 200,000 hectares of cocoa to Ghana’s output in order to increase the income of our farmers,” he promised.
‘Very, very, good cocoa prices’
Addressing a gathering of farmers and community members, President Mahama disclosed that the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Dr Randy Abbey, had briefed him on preparations to announce the new cocoa price in August.
“To cocoa farmers, the COCOBOD Chief Executive has informed me that in August, they will announce the new cocoa producer price. And I can assure you, the price is going to be a very, very, very good price,” he said.
Encouraging more Ghanaians to venture into cocoa farming, he added, “So those of you who don’t have cocoa farms, go and start looking for land and start planting cocoa.”
The promise of a favourable cocoa price was expected to energise cocoa-producing regions and restore confidence in the industry.
Again, speaking during a durbar with chiefs and residents of the Western North Region in Juaboso as part of his nationwide Thank You Tour in July 2025, President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to putting farmers first, vowing to correct longstanding injustices in Ghana’s cocoa economy.
“Western North is the heart of our cocoa industry, yet, I’m deeply aware that farmers here have been short-changed for too long, struggling with low prices, poor access to inputs, and minimal extension support. It is time to reward your sweat with justice.
“The sweat of our cocoa farmers deserves dignity and a fair reward. We also restructured the cocoa rehabilitation programme, especially Bia and Juaboso area,s where swollen shoot disease and old cocoa trees have drastically reduced cocoa yields.
“Under the new leadership of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), they will prioritise the production of improved seeds, regular extension support and proper compensation for rehabilitated cocoa farms,” President Mahama pledged.
He also used the platform to invite young people into agriculture through his administration’s Feed Ghana Programme, which offers land preparation, irrigation support, block farms, and secure markets for produce.
“If you’re a young person interested in farming, we will back you regardless of your background; agriculture must be seen not just as a survival tool but as a career that offers wealth and dignity,” he assured.
Regrettably, cocoa farmers now see this promise as a massive failure and a complete betrayal of trust.
President Mahama’s empathy
President John Dramani Mahama recently empathised with cocoa farmers at the opening of the Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition 2026.
He disclosed that he owned a 50-acre cocoa farm and a 100-acre palm plantation.
“I am a cocoa farmer, so when the prices were reduced by government, it affected me too. I want to be able to empathise with farmers so that when we take any policy decision, we know its effects on farmers and we feel it,” the President said.
