Dr Randy Abbey is the Chief Executive of COCOBOD
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has increased the producer price of cocoa for the 2026/2027 season from GH¢41,392 to GH¢42,400 per tonne.
The new price, announced by COCOBOD Chief Executive, Dr Randy Abbey, represents an increase of GH¢1,008 per tonne, equivalent to about 2.4 percent.
The adjustment means farmers will receive GH¢42,400 for every tonne of cocoa purchased at the new producer price, providing a modest increase in the local-currency value of their produce compared with the previous season.
Dr Abbey also announced a realised Free-On-Board (FOB) price of US$2,650 per tonne for the 2026/2027 season.
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COCOBOD said the new producer price represents 71.18 percent of the realised FOB value, placing the share received by farmers above the 70 percent minimum provided for under the new cocoa pricing framework.
Impact on farmers
For cocoa farmers, the higher producer price provides an increase in the revenue earned from each tonne of cocoa sold to licensed buyers.
The increase comes at a time when farmers continue to face production costs, including labour, farm maintenance, inputs and transportation.
The additional GH¢1,008 per tonne could therefore provide some additional income to farmers, although its overall impact on household earnings will depend on individual farm output and production costs.
The new pricing mechanism is also expected to provide a clearer link between international cocoa prices and the amount paid to farmers.
Under the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026, the producer price is subject to an automatic adjustment mechanism that takes into account international cocoa prices, exchange rates and other relevant factors.
The framework guarantees cocoa farmers at least 70 percent of the gross FOB price.
Implications for the cocoa sector and economy
The new pricing arrangement forms part of broader reforms aimed at improving the financial position of COCOBOD while maintaining farmers’ share of cocoa export earnings.
The sector remains important to Ghana’s export earnings, foreign exchange generation and rural economic activity. Changes in producer prices therefore have implications beyond individual farmers, particularly for cocoa-growing communities and businesses that depend on the sector.
However, the increase in the producer price also comes as COCOBOD seeks to change how it finances cocoa purchases.
The government is working to reduce the cocoa sector’s reliance on traditional international syndicated loans and increase participation by domestic investors.
As part of this strategy, COCOBOD plans to introduce a Cocoa Notes Programme to raise funds from Ghana’s domestic capital market to finance cocoa purchases and related operations.
The financing reforms are intended to provide an alternative source of funding for cocoa purchases while reducing pressure associated with the sector’s traditional borrowing model.
The 2026/2027 season therefore begins with changes to both the pricing and financing of cocoa, as COCOBOD seeks to balance farmer incomes with the financial sustainability of the cocoa sector.
The performance of international cocoa prices, the exchange rate and COCOBOD’s financing arrangements will remain key factors in determining how the new pricing framework affects farmers and the wider economy during the season.
Watch the video below:
Effective Friday, September 25, 2026, the cocoa producer price has been increased from GH¢41,392 to GH¢42,400 per tonne. The increment represents 71.18% of the realised gross Free on Board (FOB) value.#3NewsGH #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/BVvoWZzvlA
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 25, 2026
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