Ghana passes COCOBOD Bill, guaranteeing farmers 70% of cocoa export price
The legislation introduces new financing, pricing and sustainability measures while strengthening local cocoa processing and farmer support programmes.
GHANA – Ghana has enacted the Ghana COCOBOD Bill, 2026, establishing a new legal framework to regulate and strengthen the country’s cocoa industry while guaranteeing farmers at least 70% of the Free on Board (FOB) export price of cocoa.
The legislation formally designates the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) as the statutory authority responsible for regulating, supervising and monitoring the entire cocoa value chain, from production and purchasing to processing, exports and value addition.
The new law also introduces reforms aimed at improving farmer welfare, strengthening sustainability initiatives and increasing revenue generation across the sector.
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem told Parliament that the legislation would strengthen the industry’s financial structure and increase support for domestic cocoa processors.
“The new framework will enable COCOBOD to secure local financing to purchase cocoa beans from farmers while increasing supplies to domestic processors,” Ampem said.
The legislation establishes a legal framework for the Producer Price Review Committee, which is responsible for determining the prices paid to farmers. It also strengthens regulations covering quality assurance, inspections, certification requirements and service charges within the industry.
One of the most significant reforms is the transfer of oversight responsibilities for COCOBOD from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to the Ministry of Finance, formalising a policy directive introduced in March 2025.
Lawmakers also approved measures aimed at encouraging greater private-sector participation, expanding local cocoa processing capacity and strengthening partnerships with organisations including the European Union, the World Cocoa Foundation and the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative.
The law further establishes a Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme, an Educational Trust Scheme, a Dispute Resolution Committee and a Cocoa Board Tribunal to address disputes related to licensing and other industry matters.
The government said the reforms are intended to improve the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
The announcement comes as COCOBOD projects that cocoa production will decline by at least 16% during the 2026/27 season, which begins in September.
According to the regulator, the expected decline is linked to the possible emergence of El Niño weather conditions, excessive rainfall recorded in May and June, disease outbreaks and the natural fruit-bearing cycle of cocoa trees.
COCOBOD stated that it has already introduced measures to minimise losses, including the rehabilitation of infected farms in the Western North Region, expanded insecticide and fungicide spraying programmes, and the reintroduction of a nationwide fertiliser distribution programme for the 2026/27 crop season.
The government believes the new legislation will help strengthen farmer incomes, increase investment and support sustainable growth across Ghana’s cocoa sector.
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