The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has increased the producer price of cocoa from GH¢41,392 to GH¢42,400 per tonne for the 2026/27 cocoa season.
The new producer price, which took effect on Friday, September 25, 2026, translates into GH¢2,650 for a 64-kilogramme bag of cocoa.
The announcement was made by the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Randy Abbey, at the official opening of the 2026/27 cocoa season.
According to Dr. Abbey, the new price represents 71.18 per cent of the realised gross Free-On-Board (FOB) value of cocoa.
He explained that the adjustment followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders in the cocoa industry, including the Minister of Finance, cocoa farmers and members of the Chamber of Cocoa Marketers.
The Chamber comprises Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), hauliers and processors who play critical roles in the cocoa value chain.
INCREASE FOR FARMERS
The new producer price means cocoa farmers will receive an additional GH¢1,008 per tonne compared with the producer price of GH¢41,392 applicable during the 2025/26 cocoa season.
The increase is expected to provide some additional income to farmers as they begin the new crop season, while reflecting developments in the international cocoa market and the value of Ghana’s cocoa exports.
Dr. Abbey stressed that the pricing decision was taken after consultations intended to ensure that the interests of farmers and other stakeholders within the cocoa value chain were considered.
The announcement comes at a time when the government and COCOBOD are seeking to strengthen the cocoa sector, improve the financial position of the industry and ensure that farmers receive a greater share of the value generated from cocoa.
NEW COCOA LAW
A major feature of the new cocoa season is the implementation of reforms under the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182).
Dr. Abbey said the legislation introduces important measures designed to strengthen the governance and long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
Under the new law, cocoa farmers are guaranteed a minimum of 70 per cent of the realised gross FOB price of cocoa.
The provision is expected to establish a clearer framework for determining the share of export earnings that should accrue to farmers.
Dr. Abbey said the reforms form part of efforts to improve returns to cocoa farmers while strengthening the institutional and financial foundations of the cocoa sector.
PROTECTION FROM ILLEGAL MINING
The new legislation also provides stronger protection for cocoa farms against the threat posed by illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Illegal mining has been a major concern within cocoa-growing communities because mining activities can destroy cocoa farms, degrade soil and contaminate water bodies.
The strengthened legal framework is therefore intended to provide greater protection for cocoa-producing areas and safeguard the country’s cocoa-growing capacity.
The protection of cocoa farms is particularly significant for Ghana, where cocoa remains one of the country’s major agricultural commodities and an important source of livelihoods for thousands of farming households.
NEW FINANCING FRAMEWORK
Another major component of the reforms is the introduction of a new financing framework aimed at supporting increased domestic value addition in the cocoa industry.
The objective is to encourage greater processing of cocoa within Ghana instead of relying predominantly on the export of raw cocoa beans.
Greater domestic processing could create opportunities for the production of cocoa products locally, while potentially generating additional employment, industrial activity and foreign exchange earnings.
The reform agenda therefore places emphasis not only on cocoa production but also on strengthening the wider value chain.
END TO QUASI-FISCAL ACTIVITIES
The Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 also prohibits COCOBOD from engaging in quasi-fiscal activities.
According to Dr. Abbey, the provision forms part of measures to improve the financial and institutional sustainability of the organisation.
COCOBOD has in recent years faced financial pressures associated with the financing of cocoa purchases and other activities within the sector.
The reforms are consequently expected to provide a clearer separation between COCOBOD’s core mandate and activities that could place additional financial burdens on the institution.
SUSTAINING THE COCOA INDUSTRY
Dr. Abbey said the reforms were intended to put Ghana’s cocoa industry on a more sustainable growth path.
He emphasised the need to improve returns to farmers while strengthening the financial and institutional structures supporting the industry.
The new producer price and legislative reforms come as Ghana seeks to maintain its position as one of the world’s major cocoa-producing countries.
For cocoa farmers, the immediate benefit of the new pricing arrangement is the increase in the amount payable per tonne and per 64-kilogramme bag.
For the industry as a whole, however, the reforms under Act 1182 signal a broader attempt to address structural challenges affecting cocoa production, financing, farm protection and domestic processing.
The new 2026/27 cocoa season therefore begins with both a revised producer price and a new legislative framework intended to reshape the management and future direction of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
