Ghana is now paying a higher cocoa producer price than neighbouring Ivory Coast, the world’s largest producer of the crop. This follows the announcement of a new cocoa producer price by Le Conseil du Cafe-Cacao – the country’s Cocoa and Coffee Council on March 4, 2026.
The new price of 1,200 CFA franc is a drop of over 57% from the previous price of 2,800 CFA franc announced last year. Ghana, therefore, is paying close to 44% more than Ivory Coast despite reducing the price three weeks prior.
The move by Ivory Coast was widely expected due to a slump in the world market price of the commodity with Reuters reporting of the new figure (1,200 CFA franc) citing government sources. In mid February 2026, Ghana took a similar decision to cut the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,228.75 to GH¢ 2,587 per 64kg bag.
The numbers
The development makes it the first time Ghana is reviewing cocoa price downwards during a crop season. In the case of Ivory Coast, however, they usually announce two prices to cater for the main and interim seasons.
“The Ivorian government sets the price of cocoa paid to its producers twice a year, but its latest announcement comes a month earlier than normal. The sector accounts for 14 percent of the West African country’s gross domestic product and around five million people depend on it for their living,” a Yahoo finance story on the new price said.
Cocoa price computation
Cocoa prices are calculated at three levels. Per kilogramme, per 64kg bag and per tonne. Ghana’s price is usually announced with the 64kg bag while Ivory Coast announced per kilogramme.
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A comparison of the two season price announcement by the two top producers is as follows:
| Country | Announcement | Price per 64kg bag | Price per tonne |
| Ghana | August 4, 2025 Main announcement | GH¢ 3,228.75 (US$293.29) | GH¢51,660 (US$5,040) |
| February 12, 2026 Price review | GH¢ 2,587 (US$235.05) | GH¢41,392 (US$3,770) | |
| Ivory Coast | October 1, 2025 Main announcement | 179,200 CFA franc (US$ 325.13) | 2,800,000 CFA franc (US$5,060) |
| March 4, 2025 Price review | 76,800 CFA franc (US$135.96) | 1,200,000 CFA franc (US$2,124.45) | |
| Exchange rates used: US$1 = GH¢11.02 (Feb. 12) and US$1 – 564.85 CFA (March 4) | |||
Finance minister Ato Forson’s false claim about prices
Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, at a press briefing on February 12, 2026, to announce Ghana’s new price claimed that Ivory Coast’s price at the time was far lower than that of Ghana.
“Today, if you go to Abidjan, it is obvious that their price is far lower than that of Ghana, and that is why now we are not even seeing our cocoa going to Abidjan, the farmer has no incentive to smuggle the cocoa to Abidjan. If care is not taken we will see reverse smuggling…” (watch from 20 mins:30secs)
Our earlier report found that the minister’s claim was False at the time he was speaking.
As at February 12 when Ghana cut cocoa prices, prices remained in line with the season opening price announced by President Alassane Ouattara on October 1, 2025 at 2,800 CFA francs per kilogram and 2,800,000 CFA Francs per metric tonne. The price per tonne, 2,800,000 CFA Francs per, was equivalent to US$ 5,060.
The amount according to a statement published by the Ivorian Press Agency (Agence Ivoirienne de Presse, AIP) on February 13, 2026, “ remains unchanged until March 31, 2026.”
By the end of February, the Ivorian government and the Coffee and Cocoa Council announced a major adjustment to its cocoa season calendar. Ivory Coast will now open its major season between September and February while the intermediate season will be between March and August.
The Agric minister, Bruno Kone, on March 4 confirmed to the media that the decision was confirmed by president Allasane Ouattara during a cabinet meeting, that the first interim crop season starts on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 and ends on August 31, 2026.
Conclusion
For now, farmers in the two countries are counting their losses after the respective drop in prices. Their hopes will now be hinged on the world market prices recovering by the time the 2026 / 2027 main season kicks in, that way they can impress on the government for a hike.
