The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described the government’s new cocoa producer price of GH¢2,650 per 64kg bag as “Sakawa” and “Frakadam”, a complete deceit and rip-off of cocoa farmers.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Sunday, September 27, 2026, a co-chairman of NPP Policy Committee on Food and Agriculture, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, the party said the GH¢63 increase from GH¢2,587 to GH¢2,650 for the 2026/27 season, is an insult to farmers who were promised GH¢6,000 per bag by the NDC while in opposition.
“As recently as the 2024 election campaign, leading members of the then opposition NDC, including current Minister for Food and Agriculture Hon. Eric Opoku, Minister for Finance Hon. Ato Forson, Minister for Health Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and His Excellency the President himself, went round cocoa-growing areas and promised GH¢6,000 per bag,” Dr. Opoku recounted.
The NPP recalled that farmers were told the GH¢3,100 price at the time was a rip-off and that they deserved 70% of the world market price.
According to Dr. Opoku, the first deceit was the announcement of GH¢3,625 per bag in October 2025 for the 2025/26 season, far below the GH¢6,000 promise.
Four months later in February 2026, government slashed the price to GH¢2,587, a cut of GH¢1,038 per bag.
Dr. Opoku described the slash as arbitrary and unlawful, noting it came from an Emergency Cabinet decision without stakeholder consultation, and violated the long-standing guaranteed minimum price system which, once announced, must prevail throughout the crop year.
“There is a saying in Akan that ‘sɛ wo anya biribi amma wo ase a, ɛmɔ no korono’ — you don’t steal from your in-law when you have nothing to offer him. Why did you slash below the GH¢3,100 you came to meet when you knew you could not pay the GH¢6,000 you promised?” the NPP quizzed.
“NDC mmo de ka; mmo de kookoo akuafoɔ ka — NDC owe, you owe cocoa farmers,” the NPP added.
GH¢318 shortchange
Challenging COCOBOD’s claim that GH¢2,650 represents 71.18% of the Gross FOB price, the NPP questioned the FOB figure of $5,180 per ton used by COCOBOD when world market prices for the past three months have hovered between $5,500 and $6,000 per ton, excluding the $400 Living Income Differential (LID).
Using a conservative calculation, the NPP argued with world price at $5,500 plus $400 LID is equal to $5,900 per ton.
At GH¢11.5 to $1, that is GH¢67,850 per ton.
Again, 70% of that is GH¢47,495. This figure divided by 16 bags per ton, according to the NPP, the farmer should be receiving GH¢2,968.40 per bag.
“Our cherished farmers have been shortchanged by a whopping GH¢318 on every bag,” the NPP said.
GH¢4 billion cocoa debt
The NPP also raised alarm over GH¢4 billion worth of cocoa beans delivered to COCOBOD in the just-ended 2025/26 season which remains unpaid, according to the Chamber of Cocoa Marketers Association.
“If GH¢4 billion worth of 2025/26 purchases remain unpaid, where is the guarantee that fresh purchases in the new season will be paid?” the party asked.
NPP demands transparency
The NPP is demanding transparency in the computation of the producer price and immediate payment of all arrears owed to farmers and Licensed Buying Companies.
“Seventy percent of Gross FOB as the law prescribes is not GH¢2,650. This is a stab in the back of our vulnerable farmers. If you cannot spell, do not write. Sɛ prɛ, sɛ prɛ yi, ɛno ne GH¢63 yi,” the party concluded.
By Kyei Boteng
