The Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) has expressed its disappointment over the recent government increment of cocoa price following the announcement at the Producer Price Committee Review, chaired by the Finance Minister, Hon. Ato Forson.
In a press conference at Accra, the Civil-Society mentioned that the newly farmgate price of USD $5,040 per metric tonne which is purported to represent 62% increase from last season’s USD $3,100 is misleading. GCCP’s reservations stem from prior assurances made by the President and Minister of Agriculture, pledging that cocoa farmers would receive 70% of the global market price.
According to GCCP, while this shift appears significant in dollar terms, the corresponding increase in local currency tells a more accurate story rising only 4.1%, from GH¢3, 100 to GH¢3,228.75 per 64-kg bag but not as it appears to be.
Underscoring the challenges facing cocoa farming, like; escalating production costs due to expensive inputs, labour, and operations, climate change impacts, including erratic weather patterns and worsening crop diseases like black pod, the increment remains insufficient to transform the livelihoods of cocoa farmers meaningfully, therefore, the need to increase the price more than GH¢3,228.75 per 64-kg bag.
To put it on records, the GCCP said Civil-Society is not politically motivated or been backed by any political party, but the interests of the cocoa farmers are their concern.
GCCP recommended to the government to first Implement Mid-Term Price Reviews: Adapt prices in line with global market fluctuations to mitigate smuggling.
- Support Local LBCs: Strengthen local license buying companies through targeted financing and policy frameworks.
- Tackle Structural Challenges: Address input affordability, climate resilience, and extension service access.
- Invest in Farmer Education: Equip farmers with skills in sustainability, agronomy, and quality assurance.
- Improve Rural Infrastructure: Upgrade roads, storage facilities, and essential services in cocoa-growing communities.
About the Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP)
The GCCP is an independent campaign and advocacy platform comprising civil society actors in the cocoa sector, including NGOs, farmer associations, and community organizations. Our mission is to advocate for and influence cocoa sector policies to improve the livelihoods of farmers across Ghana. We are committed to working with the government, private sector, and other stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and equitable cocoa industry that benefits all stakeholders.
