The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for a review of the government’s GH¢2,650 producer price for a 64-kilogramme bag of cocoa for the 2026/27 season, arguing that the figure is inadequate and does not meet the statutory requirement under the new cocoa law.

In a statement dated September 27, the opposition party questioned the basis on which the government arrived at the new price, particularly its calculation of the percentage of the Gross Free-on-Board (FOB) value being paid to cocoa farmers.

The government, through the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), announced the new producer price on September 25, increasing it from GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag in the previous season to GH¢2,650. The increase amounts to GH¢63 per bag, or about 2.4 per cent.

COCOBOD says the new price of GH¢42,400 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,650 per bag, represents 71.18 per cent of the realised gross FOB value of cocoa.

The announcement was made under the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), which provides for a minimum of 70 per cent of the realised gross FOB price to be paid to cocoa farmers.

However, the NPP disputes the government’s calculation and says the figures underpinning the 71.18 per cent claim require greater transparency.

The party has therefore challenged the government to review the producer price to ensure what it considers full compliance with the statutory provision.

NPP raises campaign promise

Beyond the statutory argument, the NPP also accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of failing to fulfil promises it made to cocoa farmers during the 2024 election campaign.

According to the opposition party, leading NDC figures, including President John Dramani Mahama, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku and Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, engaged cocoa-growing communities during the campaign and promised a producer price of GH¢6,000 per bag.

The NPP said farmers were also told that the GH¢3,100 per bag then being paid was exploitative and that cocoa farmers deserved at least 70 per cent of the international market price.

The party argues that the GH¢2,650 announced for the 2026/27 season falls substantially below that campaign figure.

Government's position

The government’s announced price, however, is presented by COCOBOD as being above the 70 per cent threshold contained in Act 1182.

COCOBOD said the new price followed consultations involving the Ministry of Finance, cocoa farmers and other stakeholders in the cocoa value chain, including licensed buying companies, hauliers and processors.

The new pricing forms part of broader reforms introduced under the 2026 Act, including changes intended to strengthen the financial sustainability and governance of the cocoa sector and improve returns to farmers.

The dispute now centres on whether the GH¢2,650 price accurately reflects the statutory 70 per cent minimum and whether the government’s calculation of the realised gross FOB value provides sufficient basis for the announced figure.