Ghanaian cocoa farmers received highest farmgate price in West Africa

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has stated that any claims suggesting farmers in Côte d’Ivoire enjoy better producer prices are factually incorrect and misleading.

The Board reiterated its commitment to protecting farmer welfare, enhancing the sustainability of the cocoa sector, and maintaining Ghana’s position as a leader in the global cocoa market.

A statement released in Accra addressed recent reports and public discussions that implied the farmgate cocoa price in Ghana was lower than that in Côte d’Ivoire.

It emphasized that current market data and independent analyses clearly show that Ghanaian cocoa farmers are receiving significantly higher producer prices than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire.

According to the August 2025 report from the Commodity Analysis Team, Ghana’s official producer price is set at ¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag (which translates to ¢51,660 per tonne or $5,040.00/MT).It said Côte d’Ivoire’s producer price was ¢2,553.38 per 64kg bag (equivalent to ¢40,854 per tonne or $3,886/MT), and this translates to a price advantage of ₵675.38 per bag ($64.16) and ¢10,806 per tonne ($1,154) in favour of Ghanaian farmers.

The statement said on a per-kilo basis, Ghanaian farmers earn ¢51.65 ($5.04) versus ¢40.85 ($3.89) in Côte d’Ivoire.

It said that for every 64kg bag, Ghanaian farmers take home $315, compared to $227 in Côte d’Ivoire and on a tonne basis, Ghanaian cocoa commands $5,040, compared to $3,630 across the border.

The statement said contrary to claims of parity or disadvantage, Ghana’s farm-gate price was not only higher, but also the most competitive in the sub-region.

“The official differential, at the moment, underscores this reality: Ghanaian farmers are receiving more than ₵10,000 extra per tonne compared to their Ivorian counterparts,” it added.

It said this pricing policy reflected COCOBOD’s unwavering commitment to ensuring fair and rewarding returns for farmers’ hard work.

It said it was to shield farmers from volatile foreign exchange movements that often distorted perceptions of relative pricing and discouraged smuggling by maintaining farmgate prices that were both attractive and sustainable within Ghana.

The statement said Ghana’s cocoa remained the global benchmark for quality, and now, backed by the highest farmgate price in West Africa, it also guaranteed better livelihoods for the farmers.