Ghana Cocoa Board targets 650,000 tonnes cocoa output for 2025/2026 

GHANA – Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) expects cocoa production to reach about 650,000 metric tonnes in the 2025/2026 crop season as the government rolls out a new farmer pricing framework and prepares for a shift in sector financing through the domestic debt market. 

Chief Executive Randy Abbey said production data indicate the country is on course to meet its target after several seasons of declining output linked to disease outbreaks, illegal mining, adverse weather and financing constraints. 

“We projected 650,000 for the 2025/2026 cocoa crop season,” Dr. Abbey said, adding that available data indicate the target is within reach as the sector moves toward the light crop season. 

The production recovery comes as government advances reforms to cocoa pricing aimed at improving farmer compensation while managing financial pressures within the sector. 

“Government decided that it is going to give farmers about 70 percent of the declared world market price,” Dr. Abbey said. “The periodic reviews will help respond more quickly to changing market conditions.” 

He said government efforts to improve farmer livelihoods will also require broader international cooperation, arguing that sustainability costs should not be borne disproportionately by producing countries and smallholder farmers. 

“We are looking at funding the entire crop,” Dr. Abbey said during the Africa Cocoa Investment Forum in London. “We believe that interest rates in Ghana now are at the right place for us to go into the market.” 

The financing transition comes as COCOBOD manages a debt burden estimated at about GH¢32 billion while attempting to restore production growth and stabilise farmer incomes. 

Ghana’s cocoa output fell from about 1.04 million metric tonnes in 2020/2021 to around 531,000 tonnes in 2023/2024 before recovering to an estimated 700,000 tonnes in 2024/2025. 

“Producing countries cannot carry this financial burden alone,” he said, warning that sustainability requirements risk becoming “a tax on the poor” without broader support. 

The meeting scheduled for March 16–18, 2027, will bring together stakeholders under the theme “From Origin to Global Resilience” focusing on livelihoods, climate resilience, disease management and supply security. 

Dr. Abbey said Ghana will use the summit to attract investment into processing, value addition and rehabilitation of farms affected by Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease. 

The cocoa sector remains central to Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and rural employment. Authorities say ongoing reforms in pricing, financing and farm rehabilitation are expected to support long-term stability and growth.  

Industry stakeholders continue to monitor global price movements, climate risks and investment flows as the country positions itself for a more resilient cocoa value chain in the coming seasons.  

Officials maintain that improved yields and financing reforms will be critical in restoring Ghana’s leadership in global cocoa production over time and sustainability goals long term. 

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