Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are the world’s largest cocoa producers, accounting for the majority of global cocoa production. In 2020, Côte d’Ivoire produced 44.4% of the world’s cocoa, while Ghana produced 16.3%.
Together, they account for approximately 60% of global cocoa supply. Ghana’s production peaked at 1.047 million metric tons in the 2020/2021 season, but has since been affected by various factors.
In an effort to boosting the sector and strengthen farmer confidence ahead of the new cocoa season, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Abbey, has been touring cocoa growing communities.
He has assured cocoa farmers of a favourable producer price for the 2025/2026 crop season. The new price, he says, will surpass that of neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, boosting farmers’ incomes.
The assurance was given during his working visit to cocoa-growing communities in the Bono and Ahafo regions on Tuesday, April 27 and Wednesday, April 28, 2025.
The COCOBOD CEO’s tour began with a courtesy call on the Queen Mother of Dormaa, Odeneho Dr. Akosua Frema Dwaben II, at the Dormaa Abanpredease Palace. Dr. Abbey stated that his visit aims to strengthen partnerships with farmers and traditional leaders to enhance the cocoa sector.
“The headquarters is in Accra but the job itself is here, so we find it necessary to get closer to the farmers and also you as custodians of the lands for your prayers and advice.”
The Dormaa Queen Mother urged the COCOBOD CEO to prioritize policies that will boost the cocoa industry and ensure sustainable benefits for farmers.
“We know how valuable cocoa is, I urge you to do something concerning the price to ensure long-term benefits and improve the welfare of farmers,” she asserted.
In his engagements with cocoa farmers, the CEO emphasized COCOBOD’s commitment to ensuring that farmers receive competitive prices for their produce. He revealed that the new pricing, to be announced in August 2025, will be higher than that of Côte d’Ivoire.
“We are committed to ensuring that you the farmers receive competitive prices for your hard work. We will open this year’s season in August and as we open it will come with new price, the new pricing to be announced in August 2025, will be higher than what our neighbours in Côte d’Ivoire offer,” he emphasized.
During engagements with farmers, calls were made for urgent reforms to make cocoa farming more profitable and attractive to the youth.
Joseph Kwame Amoakoh, is a cocoa farmer in Apataasu No. 2, a suburb of Duayaw Nkwanta in the Ahafo region.
He owns three and a half acres of cocoa farm and he has been farming for over fifty years entreated the government to enforce tree planting in cocoa growing areas to help mitigate climate change which is affecting farming.
He also called for the the distribution of insecticides to be time-bound for timely application to reap its benefit.
“Our major challenge now is the bad weather, we want government to enforce tree planting and also the insecticides must come on time to support and sustain our farms,” he appealed.
Another cocoa farmer, Paulina Takyi Agyeman, urges government to support women in cocoa farming with incentives and soft loans to make it lucrative to encourage more women especially the youth to enter into farming.
“If the government wants young people to stay in cocoa farming, they must make it worthwhile with good prices and incentives.”
With the new pricing set to be announced in August, farmers remain hopeful for a brighter season ahead.
By Claude Kumi Abisa
