The Head of Public Affairs at Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Jerome Kwaku Sam, says Government chose to maintain cocoa producer prices despite the decline on international markets to protect farmers’ incomes and livelihoods.
Unlike neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, where the government adjusts prices as and when they decline on the international market, Sam says the Ghana Government wants to stick to the country’s pricing system which has traditionally provided stability for farmers throughout the cocoa season.
“This is a conventional thing, and it has been a practice all this while. At the beginning of the season, an official announcement will come, and then when we also get to the light crop season, there will also be an announcement.
“Oftentimes, the price at the beginning remains unchanged because of the system adopted by Ghana,” he said on JoyNews Monday, June 15, 2026.
He said the review which was made earlier this year was as a result of an unusual circumstances forcing authorities to review the price earlier than expected.
“It is quite unfortunate. Something happened this year. Starting from the beginning of last year, which goes into this year, something happened, so we had to have a change in the price somewhere in February,” he explained.
Despite the significant public debate the decision generated, Sam indicated that the price review was necessary to protect the sector that plays a major role in the country’s economy.
“Government and COCOBOD took that decision just to save a sector which significantly contributes to our GDP,” he stated.
Mr Sam revealed that the most important consideration in the latest pricing decision was the welfare of cocoa farmers.
“Government took into consideration the income levels of the ordinary farmer. That is basically the first thing government took into consideration,” he said.
According to him, cocoa prices would have come down further if Government had followed adjustments on the international market.
“If we are to consider what is prevailing on the international market, then of course the price would have gone down again,” he said.
Comparing Ghana’s situation with Côte d’Ivoire, where he is currently based, Mr Sam said producer prices there are adjusted whenever international prices decline.
“Should you come to Côte d’Ivoire, where I find myself today, that’s what is happening, because they are having changes as and when the prices dip,” he explained, adding that Ghana chose to adopt a different strategy.
“We took a decision that the farmer has already been hit, so we need to make sure that the prices remain unchanged, so we can end the season,” he added.
He said Government needed to shield the farmers from further hardship, the reason they maintained the prices.
“I can tell you that the government was largely very concerned about the income and livelihood of the ordinary cocoa farmer,” he added.
Government maintains Cocoa Producer Price for 2025/26 light crop season
