President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaian cocoa farmers that they will receive at least 70 percent of the world market price for their cocoa beans starting from the next farming season. This promise, which he said would be implemented before the start of the 2025/2026 cocoa crop year, was made during a grand durbar in Juaboso, Western North Region.
Speaking to a large gathering of chiefs, farmers, and community members on Tuesday, Mahama said his government was committed to ensuring that farmers are fairly compensated for their efforts. He declared that the new payment structure would reflect in the cocoa producer price to be announced by the Producer Price Review Committee before the next season begins.
“Let me be clear,” the former president said, “we will honour our promise to pay our hardworking farmers 70 per cent of the world market price of cocoa. The sweat of our cocoa farmers deserves dignity and a fair reward.”
President Mahama emphasized that cocoa remained the backbone of Ghana’s rural economy, and its farmers needed to be empowered if the nation wanted to maintain its position as a global leader in cocoa production. Ghana, alongside Côte d’Ivoire, is one of the largest producers of cocoa in the world. But the industry has long struggled with issues around pricing, poor infrastructure, and ageing farms.
In his address, Mahama also unveiled a number of development projects targeted at the cocoa sector and rural farming communities. These include the construction of the Juaboso–Asawinso trunk road, which he said would begin this quarter. In addition, 120 kilometres of feeder roads linking cocoa-producing villages to major buying centres will be constructed to ease transportation difficulties faced by farmers.
As part of efforts to boost cocoa production and improve yields, the government will distribute five million hybrid cocoa seedlings across farming districts. These new seedlings are more resistant to disease and are expected to deliver better harvests over a shorter period.
He also announced that fertiliser subsidies would be scaled up significantly, ensuring that farmers get easier and cheaper access to the necessary inputs that will help them grow more cocoa per hectare. This intervention, Mahama said, was essential to keep Ghana at the top of the cocoa market globally.
In another major step, the government has enrolled 10,000 young people into the Cocoa Rehabilitation and Youth Entrepreneurship Programme. The initiative is designed to rejuvenate old and dying cocoa farms while providing decent jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for Ghanaian youth. Under the programme, young people will be trained in modern cocoa farming techniques, land preparation, nursery management, and agribusiness skills.
Mahama said that creating employment through agriculture would reduce rural poverty and support the long-term development goals of the country. “This is not just about farming,” he said. “It is about building sustainable livelihoods, empowering the youth, and transforming our rural economy.”
The president’s remarks were welcomed by many cocoa farmers in the area, some of whom have long complained about the low farmgate prices they receive despite the high cost of living and production. With international cocoa prices rising in recent months, many have called for a new pricing system that would give farmers a fairer share of the global cocoa trade.
Though Mahama’s pledge has been met with excitement, some stakeholders are cautiously optimistic. They say that beyond the promise, what matters most is the actual delivery of the 70 percent share, as well as the transparency in how the world market price is calculated and passed on to farmers.
The former president also urged community leaders and youth groups to support government efforts to reform the cocoa industry. He noted that Ghana’s growth agenda could only be achieved if farmers are protected, motivated, and fully involved in the development process.
As Ghana prepares for another cocoa season, all eyes will be on the Producer Price Review Committee to see if the government will deliver on its 70 percent pledge. If implemented, it will mark a significant shift in cocoa pricing policy and could serve as a model for other West African countries battling similar challenges.
