Ghana opens 2026/27 Cocoa Season with producer price of GH¢42,400 per tonne

In a significant development for Ghana's cocoa industry, the nation has opened the 2026/27 cocoa season with an increased producer price of GH¢42,400 per tonne, according to a press release on September 25, 2026. This marks a substantial rise from the previous price of GH¢41,392 per tonne, representing an increase of 71.18 percent of the gross FOB value.

Dr Randy Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), revealed the new price during a media briefing in Accra, following thorough consultations with the Ministry of Finance, farmers, cocoa marketers, licensed buying companies, hauliers, and processors. The new price stems from the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), which mandates farmers to receive a minimum of 70 percent of the realised gross FOB price of cocoa.

The reforms under this new legislation aim to bolster the governance and long-term sustainability of Ghana's cocoa sector, safeguard farms from illegal mining, and establish a financing framework for promoting domestic value addition. By enforcing the revised producer price, the government and industry stakeholders anticipate a boost in farmers' returns while simultaneously battling cocoa smuggling.

COCOBOD plans to maintain its productivity-enhancement initiatives, such as distributing free fertilizers, hybrid cocoa seedlings, and executing the Cocoa Disease and Pest Control Programme. These measures are intended to lower production costs for farmers, boost yields, and enhance farm incomes. The Chief Executive Officer urged stakeholders, including cocoa farmers, traditional authorities, buying companies, security personnel, and cocoa-growing communities, to support anti-smuggling measures and protect Ghana's cocoa industry.

Furthermore, Ghana is set to comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation, effective December 30, 2026, by fully deploying the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System across all cocoa-growing regions. This system is designed to trace and verify cocoa as deforestation-free, child-labour-free, and legally produced, ensuring transparency and sustainability along the entire cocoa supply chain.

Other stakeholders' existing rates and fees within the cocoa supply chain will remain unaffected. The government remains committed to collaborating with farmers and industry partners to enhance productivity, enhance transparency, protect cocoa farms, and encourage domestic value addition.