Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has stated that cocoa farmers in Ghana are currently receiving more than double the mid-crop price being offered to their counterparts in neighboring Ivory Coast.
Speaking in Parliament after President John Dramani Mahama delivered the 2026 State of the Nation Address, Ayariga referenced figures published by Reuters to support his claim.
Breaking Down the Numbers
According to the Reuters report cited by Ayariga:
•Ivory Coast will pay farmers 800 to 1,000 CFA francs per kilogramme for the mid-crop season beginning March 1.
•The main crop price in Ivory Coast stands at 2,800 CFA francs per kilogramme.
When converted, the mid-crop rate in Ivory Coast amounts to approximately GH¢980 to GH¢1,225 per 64-kilogram bag.
By comparison, Ghanaian cocoa farmers are currently paid GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogram bag, which Ayariga said demonstrates Ghana’s relatively stronger producer pricing.
“Today appears to be about cocoa prices,” he told Parliament, before reading excerpts from the Reuters report to highlight the difference in rates between the two countries.
Sector Under Financial Pressure
Despite the higher farmgate price, Ghana’s cocoa industry is facing significant financial strain.
Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), which purchase cocoa from farmers on behalf of the state, have struggled in recent months due to delayed payments from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). The regulator is reportedly indebted to LBCs to the tune of more than GH¢8.8 billion, limiting their ability to continue purchasing beans from farmers.
This cash flow crisis has created uncertainty across cocoa-growing communities, where timely payments are critical for household income, school fees, and farm reinvestment.
Government’s Price Adjustment
On February 12, the government announced a revision of the cocoa producer price for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The new rate was set at GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogram bag.
Officials say the adjustment is part of broader efforts to stabilize the cocoa sector while managing financial pressures facing COCOBOD.
Ghana and Ivory Coast are the world’s two largest cocoa producers, and pricing decisions in both countries significantly influence farmer livelihoods and global cocoa supply. While Ghana’s current producer price is comparatively higher, the sustainability of that rate will depend on resolving COCOBOD’s financial challenges and restoring liquidity across the cocoa value chain.
For farmers, the headline figures represent more than statistics — they determine income stability in a sector that supports millions of households across Ghana.
Source: Africa Publicity
