On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Cabinet held an emergency meeting to deliberate on pressing developments in Ghana’s cocoa sector. The session examined historical and systemic challenges confronting the industry and adopted key decisions to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and protect national revenue.
The meeting reviewed the 2025/26 cocoa season, which began in August 2025 with a producer price of GH¢51,660 per tonne. This figure was calculated as 70 percent of the Gross Free on Board (FOB) price of US$7,200 per tonne, using an exchange rate of GH¢10.25 to the US dollar.
However, on October 1, 2025, Côte d’Ivoire announced a new producer price that was 20 percent higher than Ghana’s. This development, combined with exchange rate movements, created a significant disparity between the two countries’ farmgate prices, raising fears of large-scale smuggling of Ghana’s cocoa across the border.
In response, the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) adjusted Ghana’s producer price to GH¢58,000 per tonne, reflecting an exchange rate of GH¢11.5 to the dollar. The adjustment made Ghana’s farmgate price competitive and helped stem the risk of smuggling.
Cabinet also noted that from October 2025, world market prices for cocoa began to decline. Despite the downward trend, COCOBOD continued selling beans until prices fell below US$6,400 per tonne—the threshold cost of moving cocoa from the farmer to the port.
The emergency session underscored government’s commitment to stabilizing the sector, protecting farmers, and ensuring Ghana remains competitive in the global cocoa market.
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