Young cocoa farmers across the country have expressed growing anxiety over the 2026/2027 cocoa purchasing season, citing uncertainty over financing, producer prices and the official start date of the new season.
The Young Cocoa Farmers Association, in a petition to President John Dramani Mahama dated August 17, 2026, said the difficulties experienced during the 2025/2026 season had left many farmers financially distressed and uncertain about the future of cocoa production.
The association said many young cocoa farmers failed to meet their production targets and expected incomes during the previous season, making it difficult for some farming households to meet basic needs, pay school fees, access healthcare and undertake essential farm maintenance.
It said the situation had been compounded by financial challenges facing Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) and purchasing clerks, many of whom lacked adequate funds to purchase cocoa beans from farmers during the minor season.
According to the association, the financing challenges made it difficult for farmers to sell their produce and access much-needed income.
It said farmers traditionally relied on advances and credit facilities from buyers during the period to sustain their farms until the main harvest, but many buyers had also been unable to provide such support because of financial constraints.
The association said the uncertainty surrounding the 2026/2027 season was making it difficult for farmers to plan investments, arrange labour, purchase inputs and set production targets.
It has therefore appealed to the government to provide urgent clarity on whether adequate funds would be made available to ensure the purchase of cocoa beans throughout the season.
The farmers also want the government to explain measures being implemented to prevent a recurrence of the financing challenges that affected cocoa purchases during the previous season.
They are further seeking clarity on whether the producer price of cocoa will remain stable or be reduced, as well as the official commencement date of the new purchasing season.
The association also called for clarification on the policy under which cocoa farmers are expected to receive 70 per cent of the value of cocoa, and urged the government to engage farmers on the 2026 Cocoa Bill.
The petition, which was signed by the Executive Secretary of the association, Madam Adwoa Mensah, and its Convenor, Martin Adu, said farmers needed a detailed explanation of the Bill’s key provisions, implications and expected benefits.
The association stressed that cocoa farmers were major contributors to Ghana’s export earnings and deserved timely information, policy certainty and prices that reflected the true cost of production.
It urged the government to engage stakeholders ahead of the new season, saying clear direction would help restore confidence and enable farmers to plan effectively.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke