The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) says any assertion that farmers in Côte d’Ivoire are better off in terms of producer price is factually inaccurate and misleading.

The Board reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding farmer welfare, strengthening cocoa sector sustainability, and upholding Ghana’s leadership in the global cocoa industry.

A statement issued in Accra clarified recent reports and public commentary suggesting that the farmgate cocoa price in Ghana was lower than that in Côte d’Ivoire.

It said current market data and independent analysis categorically demonstrated that Ghanaian cocoa farmers were receiving significantly higher producer prices compared to their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire.

The statement said, according to the August 2025 report by the Commodity Analysis Team, Ghana’s official producer price stands at ¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag (equivalent to ¢51,660 per tonne or $5,040.00/MT).

It said Côte d’Ivoire’s producer price was ¢2,553.38 per 64kg bag (equivalent to ¢40,854 per tonne or $3,886/MT), and this translates to a price advantage of ₵675.38 per bag ($64.16) and ¢10,806 per tonne ($1,154) in favour of Ghanaian farmers.

The statement said on a per-kilo basis, Ghanaian farmers earn ¢51.65 ($5.04) versus ¢40.85 ($3.89) in Côte d’Ivoire.

It said that for every 64kg bag, Ghanaian farmers take home $315, compared to $227 in Côte d’Ivoire and on a tonne basis, Ghanaian cocoa commands $5,040, compared to $3,630 across the border.

The statement said contrary to claims of parity or disadvantage, Ghana’s farm-gate price was not only higher, but also the most competitive in the sub-region.

“The official differential, at the moment, underscores this reality: Ghanaian farmers are receiving more than ₵10,000 extra per tonne compared to their Ivorian counterparts,” it added.

It said this pricing policy reflected COCOBOD’s unwavering commitment to ensuring fair and rewarding returns for farmers’ hard work.

It said it was to shield farmers from volatile foreign exchange movements that often distorted perceptions of relative pricing and discouraged smuggling by maintaining farmgate prices that were both attractive and sustainable within Ghana.

The statement said Ghana’s cocoa remained the global benchmark for quality, and now, backed by the highest farmgate price in West Africa, it also guaranteed better livelihoods for the farmers.