Claim Ivory Coast paying cocoa farmers more than announced farmgate price is false

Claim: A Ghanaian opposition lawmaker and former Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, alleges that neighbouring Ivory Coast is paying cocoa farmers more than its announced farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs despite international price fluctuation.

Verdict: False! DUBAWA’s research showed that, contrary to the ex-Ghanaian minister’s claim, Côte d’Ivoire is not paying cocoa farmers more than the announced farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs per kilogram. Media reports indicate that the French-speaking country is considering reducing the farmgate price of cocoa under international pressure.

Full-Text

Former Ghanaian Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has alleged that neighbouring Ivory Coast, the world’s leading cocoa producer, is paying cocoa farmers more than its announced farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs despite international pressure.

His comments came days after the Ghanaian government announced its decision to reduce the country’s farmgate price of cocoa for the 2025/2026 cocoa season, set at GH₵58,000 per ton, citing fluctuations in international prices.

Reacting to the reduction, senior members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have asked the government to reverse the decision and stick to the originally announced farmgate price of GH₵58,000 per ton.

“Cote d’Ivoire, in spite of the so-called external factors, in spite of the so-called external shocks and external reduction in international price of cocoa, Cote d’Ivoire today is maintaining its price and paying more to its farmers than the Ghanaian government is paying to cocoa farmers,” he said.

See his comment at minutes 24:30 to 24:50 of the video posted on Accra-based ChannelOneTV’s YouTube account.

The social media data shows that the YouTube video posted on Feb. 17, 2026, has garnered over 3,486 views as of Feb. 19, 2026. DUBAWA decided to probe the claim amid intense public debate on the subject in the country.

Verification

DUBAWA’s investigation showed that, contrary to the ex-Ghanaian minister’s claim, Cote d’Ivoire is not paying cocoa farmers more than the announced farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs per kilogram.

President Ouattara offered cocoa farmers a farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs (about €4.26) per kilogram and 1,700 CFA francs (€2.59) per kilogram for coffee in October 2025.

The French-speaking country sells much of its cocoa crop in advance, with prices fixed by the state, as is the case in Ghana.

The price of cocoa per ton on the international market as of Feb. 18, 2026, is $3,311, equivalent to GH₵38,255.45, according to the IFC Markets, after rising to over $10,000 in the closing part of 2025.

Unlike Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire has not reviewed its farmgate prices despite the international price fluctuations.

Findings of DUBAWA’s Google Keyword Search revealed that no credible media organisation in the country or internationally has reported any such price reduction.

However, Reuters reported that the French-speaking country is considering following its neighbour, Ghana, to lower its farmgate prices.

“The senior Ivory Coast officials said all options were on the table as the government debates whether to follow Ghana, which has already cut its farmgate price by 28.6% for the rest of the 2025/2026 season main crop, in coordination with Abidjan, as it adjusts to plunging prices,” the international media reported.

Another media outlet, DW Africa, has echoed Reuters’ report on the possible reduction in the farmgate price of cocoa in the Ivory Coast.

Conclusion

Contrary to the former Ghanaian minister’s claim, Côte d’Ivoire is not paying cocoa farmers more than the announced farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs per kilogram.