The government’s position, together with that of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), regarding cocoa bean prices may appear unfortunate. However, authorities insist that the welfare and long-term interests of cocoa farmers remain their top priority.
According to COCOBOD, its core mandate is to protect farmers’ interests and ensure they remain in business. In line with this objective, the Board will continue to provide support schemes, including the supply of free fertilizers and agrochemicals, to help farmers remain productive on their farms.
The Head of Corporate Communications at COCOBOD, Jerome Kwaku Sam, made these remarks on the Adkyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM in Accra, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu. He reiterated that the government has initiated processes to address and eliminate bottlenecks within the cocoa industry. Going forward, he stressed that the government will prioritize the welfare of cocoa farmers.
In a related development, COCOBOD has appealed to the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana) and the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to consider the plight of cocoa farmers as the Board implements austerity measures aimed at reviving the sector.
The appeal follows opposition from ICU-Ghana and GAWU to COCOBOD’s decision to reduce staff salaries. The unions have described the move as unacceptable and are demanding its reversal.
Recently, COCOBOD’s Executive Management and Senior Staff announced salary reductions of 20 percent and 10 percent respectively, citing ongoing liquidity challenges within the cocoa sector.
Jerome Kwaku Sam, Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, argued that farmers—the most critical stakeholders in the cocoa value chain—have already borne the brunt of recent reforms, particularly following the reduction in the cocoa producer price.
He emphasized that staff remuneration is funded by proceeds from cocoa production, adding that the financial health of farmers and the sustainability of the sector must remain central to any cost-cutting discussions.
“We should never be oblivious to their plight because if they are not there, we are not there. Our relevance depends on the cocoa farmer who goes through enormous challenges to produce the cocoa we sell to generate revenue.
“At every point in time, the farmer ought to be the last person to take a hit. But in this case, the farmer has been the first to take the hit. So if the most important stakeholder has taken a hit, then COCOBOD staff taking a 20 percent or 10 percent cut should not be an issue at all,” he said.
The government recently reduced the cocoa producer price to GH¢41,392 per tonne — equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag — for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season.
Addressing the press on Thursday, February 12, the Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, explained that the decision was influenced by prevailing conditions on the international cocoa market.
Meanwhile, COCOBOD has announced that GH¢237 million has been paid to farmers for 50,000 metric tonnes of cocoa.