The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has dismissed reports suggesting that cocoa farmers in Ghana earn less than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire, insisting that Ghana currently pays the highest farmgate price in West Africa.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, August 20, COCOBOD said official figures confirm that Ghanaian farmers are significantly better off. Ghana’s producer price stands at ₵3,228.75 per 64kg bag — equivalent to ₵51,660 per tonne or US$5,040 per metric tonne (MT). In Côte d’Ivoire, the price is ₵2,553.38 per bag, or ₵40,854 per tonne (US$3,886/MT).
The August 2025 Commodity Analysis Team report shows that Ghanaian farmers are earning:
₵675.38 (US$64.16) more per bag
₵10,806 (US$1,154) more per tonne
“This is not a matter of interpretation — it is a matter of fact,” COCOBOD said, adding “On every key metric, Ghanaian farmers are earning more.”
Breakdown of Comparisons
Per Kilogramme: Ghana – ₵51.65 (US$5.04) | Côte d’Ivoire – ₵40.85 (US$3.89)
Per 64kg Bag: Ghana – US$315 | Côte d’Ivoire – US$227
Per Tonne: Ghana – US$5,040 | Côte d’Ivoire – US$3,886
The Board stressed that narratives of parity or disadvantage are “factually inaccurate and misleading.”
COCOBOD explained that the pricing strategy not only secures fair returns for farmers but also shields them from currency volatility and reduces the incentive for smuggling across the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire border.
“This pricing policy reflects COCOBOD’s unwavering commitment to ensuring fair and rewarding returns for farmers’ hard work,” the statement said.
It added that Ghana’s leadership in the global cocoa industry is being reinforced through both sustainable prices and continued quality.
“Ghana’s cocoa remains the global benchmark for quality, and now, backed by the highest farmgate price in West Africa, it also guarantees better livelihoods for our farmers,” COCOBOD stressed.
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