Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has criticised the government’s latest cocoa producer price announcement, describing the new farm-gate price as evidence of what he called the administration’s failure to meet the expectations created among farmers.
His comments followed the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) announcement that the producer price for the 2026/2027 cocoa season had been increased from GH¢41,392 to GH¢42,400 per tonne, translating into GH¢2,650 for a 64-kilogramme bag. The new price took effect on September 25, 2026.
Reacting to the announcement in a series of posts on X, Annoh-Dompreh wrote: “Cocoa new farm gate price: GH¢2650!!. Now, the ‘scales’ of deception have been removed. This govt. will contend with us & our cocoa farmers once more!”
He subsequently slammed the government for what he described as “impunity,” writing: “The impunity of this government is wild & ugly!”
The MP also broadened his criticism beyond cocoa, arguing that farmers across several agricultural commodities had faced difficulties under the current administration.
“Farmers generally have come under ‘attack’ under this administration: Rice, Maize, Yam, & Cocoa!!!” he posted.
The latest cocoa price announcement comes against a turbulent backdrop for Ghana’s cocoa industry, which has seen significant changes in producer prices, financing arrangements,s and government policy over the past two seasons.
For the 2025/2026 season, cocoa was initially priced at GH¢51,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag, before the producer price was subsequently revised downward. In February 2026, the government announced a new price of GH¢41,392 per tonne, or GH¢2,587 per bag, citing falling international cocoa prices and the need to address liquidity and financing challenges within the sector.
The GH¢2,650 announced for the 2026/2027 season therefore represents an increase of GH¢63 per 64kg bag over the price that prevailed immediately before the opening of the new season, or GH¢1,008 per tonne. COCOBOD said the new price represents 71.18 per cent of the realised gross Free-On-Board (FOB) value of cocoa.
The government has linked the new pricing arrangement to the newly enacted Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026, which guarantees cocoa farmers a minimum of 70 per cent of the realised gross FOB price.
COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer Dr Randy Abbey said the new price followed consultations involving COCOBOD, the Ministry of Finance, cocoa farmers and other stakeholders, including licensed buying companies, hauliers and processors.
The latest adjustment also comes as the government implements a new financing framework for the cocoa sector, with COCOBOD seeking to reduce its reliance on traditional international syndicated borrowing and increase the use of domestic financing mechanisms.
The MP’s criticism also follows his recent nationwide engagement with cocoa farmers, during which he has highlighted concerns raised by farmers about producer prices, payments and the broader sustainability of cocoa production.
His latest intervention places those concerns directly within the debate over the government’s management of the sector.
The government, for its part, has maintained that the new pricing mechanism is designed to protect farmers while ensuring that COCOBOD remains financially sustainable. It has also said that the new law provides a mechanism for future price adjustments based on market conditions and other relevant variables.
Beyond pricing, COCOBOD has announced continued productivity programmes, including free fertiliser, hybrid seedlings and cocoa disease and pest-control interventions. The Board has also said that the cocoa traceability system has been deployed nationwide to support compliance with emerging international market requirements.
