Mahama Urges Transformation in Cocoa Sector After Price Drop
President Mahama Urges Cocoa Sector Overhaul, Calls for Value Addition to Protect Farmers
- President Mahama warns that reliance on raw cocoa exports leaves Ghana vulnerable to global price shocks
- Recent international cocoa price drop led to a 28.6% reduction in the producer price, sparking farmer protests
- Mahama urges focus on value addition to strengthen the sector and safeguard farmers’ incomes
President John Dramani Mahama has called for a major overhaul of Ghana’s cocoa industry, warning that the country remains vulnerable to global market fluctuations due to its continued reliance on raw cocoa exports.
His comments follow a sharp fall in international cocoa prices, which prompted the government to reduce the producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag—a 28.6% cut aimed at keeping Ghana competitive in the global market.
The price adjustment has sparked discontent among farmers, some of whom protested following a visit by members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament. In a video that went viral, one farmer expressed his frustration in Twi, saying:
“Mahama, you owe us. Whatever you do, you owe us.”
Speaking to the Ghanaian community in Philadelphia on Thursday, March 26, 2026, President Mahama acknowledged these concerns and highlighted the structural challenges that have long affected the sector.
“The recent cocoa price collapse, and the videos of aggrieved farmers saying I owe them, highlight a serious issue,” he said.
“For nearly seventy years since independence, we have continued exporting raw beans. What’s happening now in the international market should serve as a wake-up call for us.”
President Mahama stressed the need for Ghana to focus on value addition, processing cocoa domestically to reduce farmers’ exposure to global price shocks and strengthen the long-term resilience of the sector.
