The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has rejected suggestions that cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire earn more than their Ghanaian counterparts, describing such claims as misleading and inaccurate.
In a statement issued in Accra, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to protecting farmer welfare, promoting sustainability in the cocoa sector, and maintaining Ghana’s leadership in the global cocoa industry.
COCOBOD explained that recent reports comparing producer prices between the two countries had created a false impression. Current market data and independent analysis, the statement said, show that Ghanaian cocoa farmers actually receive significantly higher prices than those in Côte d’Ivoire.
According to the Commodity Analysis Team’s August 2025 report:
- Ghana’s official producer price stands at ¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag (equivalent to ¢51,660 per tonne or $5,040/MT).
- Côte d’Ivoire’s producer price is ¢2,553.38 per 64kg bag (equivalent to ¢40,854 per tonne or $3,886/MT).
This gives Ghanaian farmers a price advantage of:
- ¢675.38 per bag ($64.16)
- ¢10,806 per tonne ($1,154)
On a per-kilo basis, Ghanaian farmers earn ¢51.65 ($5.04) compared to ¢40.85 ($3.89) in Côte d’Ivoire. For every 64kg bag, farmers in Ghana take home about $315, while their Ivorian colleagues earn $227. On a tonne basis, Ghanaian cocoa is valued at $5,040, against $3,630 in Côte d’Ivoire.
“Contrary to claims of parity or disadvantage, Ghana’s farmgate price is not only higher but also the most competitive in the sub-region,” the statement stressed.
COCOBOD added that this pricing policy is part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring fair and rewarding returns for farmers while protecting them from volatile foreign exchange movements. The approach, it noted, also helps discourage smuggling by keeping Ghana’s farmgate prices attractive and sustainable.
The Board concluded by emphasizing that Ghana’s cocoa continues to set the global standard for quality. Now, with the highest farmgate price in West Africa, it also guarantees improved livelihoods for the country’s hardworking farmers.
