Cocoa farmers across Ghana converged in Kumasi on Tuesday, October 7, to commend the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for what they described as “unprecedented” interventions aimed at revitalizing the cocoa sector.
The farmers hailed the recent 12.27 percent increase in the producer price of cocoa from GH₵3,228.75 to GH₵3,625 per bag (GH₵58,000 per tonne) – announced by the government for the 2025/2026 crop season, effective October 3, 2025.
They also praised ongoing government support programmes such as the free distribution of fertilizer, cocoa spraying machines, and other inputs designed to boost productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
However, the gathering was not without concern. Farmers appealed to the government to intensify efforts in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), which they said continues to devastate cocoa farms and threaten the long-term survival of the industry.
Addressing the gathering, the National Chief Cocoa Farmer, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, said he was pleasantly surprised by the government’s latest price adjustment.
“I was in my office when the Finance Minister, Dr. Ato Forson, called me for an emergency meeting in Accra. That was when we were informed that the government had increased the price of a bag of cocoa by four million old Ghana cedis – just two months after the last increment. I was very excited,” Alhaji Bukari recounted.
He explained that the meeting in Kumasi was convened for farmers nationwide to collectively express their appreciation to the government and COCOBOD for their continued support.
The Western South Regional Chief Farmer, Nana Mensah, praised the government for responding swiftly to the concerns of cocoa farmers. He highlighted several interventions implemented over the past ten months, including measures to address unfair practices by purchasing clerks.
“Some clerks were cheating farmers by tampering with their weighing scales. We requested government intervention, and COCOBOD responded by providing private scales and weighing stones. This has curbed the exploitation we faced for years,” he said.
Nana Mensah also commended the scholarship initiative for children of cocoa farmers, which includes refunds of tertiary education fees.
“This year, I paid my child’s university fees, and the government refunded the amount. That alone shows real commitment to improving the welfare of cocoa farmers,” he added.
He further described the free fertilizer distribution programme as a major boost to productivity, adding that it reinforces confidence in the government’s resolve to transform the cocoa sector.
Call to Protect Cocoa Lands from Galamsey
The Western North Regional Chief Farmer, Nana Charles Owusu, while acknowledging government support, urged stronger enforcement against illegal mining, which he described as the biggest threat to cocoa cultivation.
“The major problem we face now is illegal mining. It is destroying cocoa farms and polluting our water sources. We urge the government to intensify its crackdown on galamsey before it completely wipes out our farmlands,” he appealed.
Background
Ghana’s cocoa industry long regarded as the backbone of the nation’s economy – has in recent years faced significant challenges, including declining yields, aging farms, and the destructive effects of illegal mining.
The government’s latest interventions, including the price hike, input support programmes, and scholarship schemes, form part of a broader strategy to revive the cocoa sector, restore farmer confidence, and sustain livelihoods across cocoa-growing communities.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
