Ashanti cocoa farmers back new COCOBOD Act despite price concerns

Cocoa farmers and traditional leaders across Ghana's Ashanti Region have endorsed the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), marking an important show of support for the regulatory overhaul even as many had hoped for higher producer prices for the upcoming season. The backing emerged during initial stakeholder consultations that brought COCOBOD and the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) to seven major cocoa districts to explain and gather feedback on the new legislation.

The engagements, held in communities including Offinso, Kyerayaso, Toase, New Edubiase, Kuntenase, Kona and Juansa, created space for farmers to voice concerns about both the new law and the price-setting process. While some participants expressed disappointment at the producer price announcement, COCOBOD officials' explanation of the economic factors underpinning the decision appeared to shift sentiment, with many acknowledging the broader pressures facing the sector and accepting the rationale behind the figure.

What farmers are demanding

Beyond legislative approval, Ashanti cocoa farmers have pressed for concrete improvements in support services. They called for stronger measures to ensure fertilisers and other agricultural inputs reach them in sufficient quantities and on time—a recurring complaint that reflects gaps in the input supply chain. Participants also urged faster rollout of the proposed Farmer Pension Scheme, framing it as essential to long-term financial security and livelihood stability for ageing and retiring farmers.

Transparency in the cocoa tertiary education scholarship scheme also featured prominently in discussions, with farmers demanding accountability in how awards are allocated to ensure fairness across communities. These requests signal that while farmers welcome policy reforms, they expect tangible improvements in the day-to-day services and protections the cocoa sector provides.

Why this matters for Ghana

Cocoa remains Ghana's largest agricultural export and a critical foreign currency earner, with the Ashanti Region among the country's top cocoa-producing areas. The new Cocobod Act represents a significant legislative shift, and securing farmer buy-in early is crucial to its success. By engaging directly with producers before rolling out reforms nationally, COCOBOD is attempting to build trust and forestall resistance—a lesson learned from past policy pushback in the sector.

The farmers' emphasis on depoliticising cocoa-related issues and adopting a long-term, unified approach also reflects frustration with the sector's vulnerability to political cycles and short-term thinking. A more stable, consensus-driven governance model could improve productivity and sustainability, benefiting both farmers and Ghana's economy.

The protections against illegal mining and unauthorised sand winning mentioned in discussions highlight a growing concern in cocoa-growing regions, where land degradation threatens both current harvests and future productivity. The new Act's provisions on farmland protection are therefore seen as addressing a real and urgent problem.

Next steps

COCOBOD's Benjamin Larweh, Deputy Head of Public Affairs, confirmed that recommendations and concerns raised during the Ashanti phase will be forwarded to management for consideration. The Cocoa Health and Extension Division has also announced follow-up engagements focused specifically on fertiliser distribution and the mass spraying exercise under the Cocoa Diseases and Pests Control Programme (CODAPEC).

The Ashanti consultations form the first stage of a nationwide engagement drive designed to bring COCOBOD closer to farmers and other industry stakeholders. Success in building farmer confidence in this region could set the tone for the national rollout and strengthen implementation of the new legislative framework across Ghana's cocoa belt.