Cocoa farmers demand 70% share of FOB price
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
Some Ghanaian cocoa farmers have renewed their call for the government to guarantee at least 70% of the Free-On-Board (FOB) price of cocoa as payment to local producers. They argue that anything less continues to undervalue their vital contribution to the global cocoa supply chain.
The renewed appeal follows a recent announcement by President John Dramani Mahama, who, during a Thank You tour in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, promised that a new and significantly improved cocoa producer price would be announced in August 2025.
Speaking to the media, President of the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association, Stephenson Anane Boateng, welcomed the promise but urged caution.
“Cocoa farmers are also Ghanaians, and the work we do has a direct impact on the national economy. The constitution clearly stipulates that farmers should receive 70% of the FOB price. So why do successive governments present their own projections or proposals instead?” he questioned.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, relies heavily on the earnings of smallholder cocoa farmers, making the farmgate price a crucial factor for rural livelihoods and long-term investment in the sector.
Mr. Anane Boateng also cautioned against the government’s push for large-scale commercial cocoa farming initiatives without clearly defined long-term strategies. He warned that such ventures could marginalize smallholder farmers and fail to produce the intended benefits if not carefully aligned with national cocoa development goals. “I don’t see the essence of the government’s push for commercial cocoa farms,” he stated.
