Cocoa farmers in the Western North Region staged a protest on Thursday, February 19, 2026, over the government’s decision to cut the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogram bag.
The farmers described the reduction as unfair and said it would seriously affect their incomes and ability to support their families.
Farmers from districts such as Sefwi Wiawso, Juaboso and Bia West marched through principal streets, waving placards reading “Restore Our Price Now” and “Cocoa Sustains Ghana, Don’t Neglect Farmers.”
Many farmers say rising costs for labour, fertiliser and transportation mean the new price barely covers their production expenses.
The reduction was announced on February 12, 2026, by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, following a decision by the government and the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) to adjust farmgate prices in response to a sharp drop in global cocoa prices.
Under the new arrangement, the producer price has been set at GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogram bag for the rest of the 2025/2026 crop season.
This represents a 28 per cent reduction from the previous rate.
Government officials say the cut is aimed at restoring liquidity in the cocoa sector and ensuring timely payments to farmers, many of whom have experienced delays due to unsold cocoa stocks and financial challenges at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The protest highlights growing tension within Ghana’s cocoa sector, where pricing policies, global market fluctuations and ongoing reforms at COCOBOD continue to affect the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farmers.
The decision has also drawn political reaction.
The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has condemned the mid-season price cut as a betrayal and is calling for it to be reversed.
Meanwhile, civic groups such as the People’s Forum have launched billboard campaigns in several regions to draw attention to the challenges facing cocoa farmers.
