Cocoa farmers are shifting focus from short-term price debates to long-term structural reforms, calling for legislation that would secure a guaranteed share of Ghana’s cocoa export earnings and stabilise incomes across the sector.

At a press briefing in Mankranso, the President of the farmers and 2025 National Best Cocoa Farmer, Edward Kwame Yeboah, emphasised that recent government measures show a stronger commitment to protecting producers, noting that farmers are now receiving 90 per cent of the gross Free-on-Board (FOB) price — the highest share in the industry’s history.

He described the payout as a vital buffer against unpredictable global market fluctuations.

However, he stressed that more permanent safeguards are needed to secure the future of cocoa farming.

Mr Yeboah appealed to the Parliament of Ghana to urgently pass a bill that would legally guarantee farmers a minimum of 70 per cent of the gross FOB price.

According to him, the proposed law would introduce a more flexible pricing model that automatically adjusts to movements in international cocoa prices and exchange rates, replacing the current fixed structure that often leaves farmers vulnerable during downturns.

Farmers believe the reform would promote fairness, stability and predictability, enabling them to plan their operations with greater confidence while ensuring they receive a consistent and equitable share of export revenues.

They also argue that a transparent, market-responsive system would strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness in the global cocoa trade and safeguard livelihoods across cocoa-growing communities.

For many producers, the push for legislation represents a long-term solution — one aimed at building a more resilient and sustainable cocoa industry for future generations.