The Young Cocoa Farmers Association has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama over financial difficulties confronting cocoa farmers and uncertainty surrounding the 2026/2027 cocoa purchasing season.
In the petition, the farmers said many Licensed Buying Companies and purchasing clerks lacked sufficient funds to buy cocoa beans during the 2025/2026 minor season, leaving farmers struggling to sell their produce and access income.
They said the financial challenges affected farmers’ ability to meet household expenses, pay school fees, access healthcare, maintain farms and invest in production.
The farmers are therefore seeking assurances that adequate funding will be made available throughout the 2026/2027 season and measures introduced to prevent a repeat of the previous season’s challenges. They are also demanding clarity on the producer price of cocoa and the official start date of the new purchasing season.
The association further called for clarity on the policy that cocoa farmers should receive 70% of the value of cocoa and urged the government to engage farmers on the proposed 2026 Cocoa Bill.
The farmers said detailed information on the Bill’s provisions and potential benefits would help restore confidence and enable them to make informed decisions about farm investments and production.
They appealed to the government to ensure cocoa prices reflect production costs and provide farmers with a reasonable return on their investment, stressing that timely policy decisions and adequate financing are critical to the sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector.