The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s new cocoa producer price of GH¢2,650 per 64-kilogramme bag, describing the GH¢63 increase as “sakawa” and “frakadam” and accusing the government of shortchanging cocoa farmers.
The party’s Co-Chairman of the Policy Committee on Food and Agriculture, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku, made the allegations at a press conference in Accra on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
COCOBOD increased the producer price from GH¢41,392 to GH¢42,400 per tonne for the 2026/27 season, translating into GH¢2,650 per 64kg bag, up from GH¢2,587 in the previous season. COCOBOD says the new price represents 71.18% of the realised gross Free-on-Board (FOB) value and was reached following consultations with stakeholders.
However, the NPP says the increase falls far short of promises made by the NDC while in opposition.
Dr Opoku claimed that during the 2024 election campaign, leading NDC figures, including President John Dramani Mahama and current ministers, promised cocoa farmers a producer price of GH¢6,000 per bag.
He said the government’s first price announcement for the 2025/26 season was GH¢3,625 per bag, before the price was subsequently reduced to GH¢2,587 in February 2026.
According to the NPP, the reduction represented a GH¢1,038 cut per bag and raised concerns about the government’s commitment to cocoa farmers.
NPP challenges 70% calculation
Dr Opoku also challenged COCOBOD’s assertion that GH¢2,650 represents 71.18% of the realised gross FOB value.
The NPP argued that the calculation should take into account international cocoa prices and the US$400 Living Income Differential (LID).
Using a cocoa price of US$5,500 per tonne plus the US$400 LID, the party put the effective value at US$5,900 per tonne.
At an exchange rate of GH¢11.50 to US$1, Dr Opoku calculated the value at GH¢67,850 per tonne. He then applied the 70% farmer share and divided the result by 16 bags per tonne to arrive at GH¢2,968.40 per bag.
On that basis, the NPP claimed farmers were being shortchanged by about GH¢318 per bag.
The new Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), provides for cocoa farmers to receive a minimum of 70% of the realised gross FOB price.
NPP raises GH¢4bn cocoa debt
The party also raised concerns over outstanding payments allegedly owed by COCOBOD to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs).
The Chamber of Cocoa Marketers Ghana has said COCOBOD owes LBCs nearly GH¢4 billion from the just-ended season, warning that the debt could affect the companies’ ability to secure financing to purchase cocoa in the new season.
COCOBOD has acknowledged that outstanding payments exist but has disputed suggestions that the arrears indicate an inability to meet its obligations. Its Head of Public Affairs, Jerome Kwaku Sam, said outstanding obligations after the end of a cocoa season are not unusual.
The NPP is therefore demanding greater transparency in the determination of the producer price and the immediate settlement of outstanding payments to cocoa farmers and Licensed Buying Companies.
“Seventy percent of Gross FOB as the law prescribes is not GH¢2,650,” the party said, arguing that the current price does not adequately reflect the share it believes farmers are entitled to receive.
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