The Deputy Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mensah Thompson, says listing cocoa on Ghana’s commodities exchange would eliminate syndications and improve price transparency for farmers.
Speaking on TV3’s Business Focus on Monday, February 9, 2026, Mensah Thompson said trading cocoa on a formal exchange would change how the commodity is marketed and sold.
“Once you list cocoa on the commodities exchange, arrangers and dealers would come in, and syndications would be gone,” he said.
He added that the inclusion of high-value crops such as cocoa would significantly boost activity on the commodities exchange and contribute to the broader development of the commodities market.
Mensah Thompson also explained that, a core purpose of an exchange is to create visibility and transparency in pricing.
“The whole idea of an exchange is to ensure visibility. Cocoa farmers can have clear visibility on prices,” he added.
The Deputy Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission stressed that transparent price discovery would empower farmers to make informed decisions.
He further noted that, “farmers must have that price discovery and the opportunity to decide.”
Meanwhile, Ghana’s commodities exchange was established to provide a structured marketplace for agricultural products, allowing for transparent pricing, improved access to finance and reduced reliance on informal trading arrangements.
Cocoa, one of Ghana’s most valuable export crops, is currently marketed outside the exchange system through COCOBOD. Calls to list cocoa on the exchange have intensified amid concerns over pricing transparency, farmer incomes and the sustainability of existing financing and syndication arrangements.
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