Côte d’Ivoire has officially maintained its farmgate price for cocoa at 2,800 CFA francs (approximately GH¢3,600) per 64kg bag.

The decision, announced by the Coffee-Cocoa Council (CCC) on Monday, 16th February 2026, stands in stark contrast to neighbouring Ghana, which just days ago implemented a drastic 28.6% reduction in its producer price to stay afloat.

The Ivorian authorities have confirmed that the price will remain unchanged until 31st March 2026, defying the global market slump that has forced Ghana into a defensive reset of its cocoa economy.

The Ivorian Ultimatum: Pay in full or face the law

The CCC’s press release was not merely a pricing update but a stern warning to licensed buyers. The Council reiterated that full payment for delivered cocoa must be made within one month, threatening rigorous legal sanctions against any offenders who fail to respect the minimum guaranteed price or the payment timeline.

“The Coffee-Cocoa Council invites coffee-cocoa producers to report all cases of non-compliance with the guaranteed minimum price and/or delays in payment to its competent services... so that offenders suffer the rigour of the law,” the statement read.

The Great Cocoa Divergence: Ghana vs. Côte d'Ivoire

The timing of Abidjan’s announcement creates a precarious situation for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). On Thursday, 12th February 2026, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced a price reset, slashing the rate from GH¢3,625 down to GH¢2,587 per bag.

While Ghana has adjusted to a new global reality where prices have plummeted from $7,200 to $4,100 per tonne, the Ivorian government is choosing to absorb the volatility to protect farmer incomes ahead of its own domestic political cycles.

Security analysts and industry experts warn that this GH¢1,000 price gap per bag is a smuggler's dream. With Ivorian prices now significantly higher than Ghana's, the risk of Ghanaian beans being illegally transported across the border into Léraba and Indénié-Djuablin has skyrocketed.

Ghana's decision to cut prices was framed as a necessity to clear a 50,000-tonne backlog sitting at the ports and to fix a liquidity crunch that left farmers unpaid since November 2025.

In contrast, the Ivorian Coffee-Cocoa Council is banking on its regulatory rigour to ensure transparency and stability without cutting the farmer's share.