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A coalition representing cocoa farmers in Ghana is threatening to bar officials from the national cocoa regulator, COCOBOD, from accessing their farms in protest against the recently announced producer price for the 2025/2026 season. This move has sparked concerns over a potential resurgence in cocoa smuggling to Ivory Coast and Togo.
Over 300,000 farmers have expressed outrage over the new fixed rate of 51,660 cedis ($4,783) per ton, or 3,228 cedis per 64-kg bag, unveiled on August 4. The price marks only a 4% increase from last season, falling significantly short of farmers’ expectations amid rising production costs.
Theophilus Tamakloe, vice president of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association, criticized the government for failing to uphold its promise to pay 70% of the Free on Board (FOB) price. “Using that formula, we should be getting about 3,800 cedis per bag,” he said, calling the announced rate both “unfair” and “unsustainable.”
Some growers have warned they may resort to smuggling cocoa across borders to take advantage of better prices in neighboring countries. Ghana’s Best Cocoa Farmer, Kwame Alex, highlighted a roughly 700-cedi price difference with Ivory Coast, calling it a strong incentive for illegal trade. “If I lived near the border, my cocoa would go to Ivory Coast,” he admitted.
The threat to block COCOBOD officers—who play a key role in farm monitoring and technical support—marks a serious escalation in tensions. Their absence could hamper disease control and technical oversight at a time when the sector is already grappling with global supply challenges.
As the world’s second-largest cocoa exporter, Ghana lost an estimated 160,000 tons to smuggling during the 2023/24 season, a problem largely driven by price differences and stronger demand in neighboring markets.
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Farmers argue that the new pricing fails to reflect the surge in production expenses, with insecticides now costing around 150 cedis per unit and equipment rental averaging 100 cedis per day. “The government can’t expect us to increase production when we’re being paid less than the market value,” Tamakloe said. The current dispute highlights mounting frustration in Ghana’s cocoa-producing regions and increases pressure on authorities to stabilize output and maintain credibility with global buyers ahead of the next harvesting season