Global Cocoa Prices Up, But Ghanaian Farmers Still Struggling – Kessben FM Accra Maakye Crew Fires
Global Cocoa Prices Up, But Ghanaian Farmers Still Struggling- Strong Concerns Raised on Maakye Show
On the April 17, 2025, edition of Kessben TV’s Maakye show, the crew expressed concern over the current cocoa pricing in Ghana, urging the government to adjust the farmgate price to reflect recent global market surges.
According to them, the recent increment in cocoa price announced by COCOBOD ;GH¢49,600 per tonne (GH¢3,100 per bag) is simply not enough, considering the sharp rise in cocoa prices on the international market.
They believe cocoa farmers are being short-changed despite Ghana being one of the top cocoa producers globally.
“Prices of cocoa on the international market have gone up significantly, yet our farmers here in Ghana are still suffering. Why should that be?” one panelist questioned live on the show.
The discussants noted that beyond the pricing issue, farmers are also battling with other serious challenges including galamsey destroying farmlands, diseases affecting yields, and climate change making farming even harder.
They added that if care is not taken, Ghana’s cocoa sector will continue to struggle and farmers may lose confidence in the system.
They are therefore calling on the government and COCOBOD to go back to the drawing board and come up with a better pricing structure that truly reflects the hard work of Ghanaian cocoa farmers and current global trends.
“Let’s not pretend. If we want to encourage cocoa production, then we must reward the farmers well,” one of the panelists boldly stated.
The discussion underscored the need for the government to implement a more responsive pricing mechanism that aligns with global market trends, ensuring that cocoa farmers receive fair compensation for their produce.
By: Gifty Bediako Yamoah
