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Claim: Ghana’s Deputy Trade Minister, Samson Ahi, says neighbouring Ivory Coast has reviewed its farmgate price of cocoa set at 2,800 CFA francs per kilogram in response to the price fluctuation on the international market.
Verdict: False! DUBAWA’s checks revealed that, contrary to the claim by the Ghanaian minister, Cote d’Ivoire has not announced any reduction in the farmgate price of cocoa that President Alassane Ouattara announced in October 2025.
Full Text
The Ghanaian government’s decision to reduce the country’s farmgate price of cocoa for the 2025/2026 cocoa season, set at GH₵58,000 per ton, has incurred the displeasure of some farmers and a section of Ghanaians.
The country’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, said the reduction was due to price fluctuations on the international market, which is trading between $4,300 and $4,100 per ton.
But the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has asked the government to reverse the decision and stick to the originally announced farmgate price of GH₵58,000 per ton.
Former Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor said neighbouring Ivory Coast, the world’s leading cocoa producer, has maintained its farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs despite international pressure. See his comment at minutes 24:38 to 24:57 of the video posted on Accra-based ChannelOneTV’s YouTube account.
But reacting to the ex-minister, Samson Ahi, said:
“Mr Speaker, it is never true that Cote d’Ivoire has maintained its price. Mr Speaker, can you explain why?”
He made the comment at minute 28:30 to 28:44 of the Parliamentary session posted on Accra-based ChannelOneTV’s YouTube account.
Samson’s comment sparked a fierce debate inside the Chamber.
The social media data shows that the YouTube video garnered over 1,286 views within 5 hours.
DUBAWA decided to probe the claim amid intense public debate on the subject in the country.
Verification
DUBAWA’s research showed that, contrary to the claim by Ghana’s Deputy Trade Minister, Samson Ahi, Côte d’Ivoire has not announced any reduction in the farmgate price of cocoa that President Alassane Ouattara announced in October 2025.
Ivory Coast offered cocoa farmers a farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs (about €4.26) per kilogram and 1,700 CFA francs ( about €2.59) per kilogram for coffee.
“I am pleased to announce that for the 2025–2026 campaign, the guaranteed farmgate price for well-dried and sorted cocoa is fixed at 2,800 CFA francs,” President Ouattara said in October 2025.
The French-speaking country sells much of its cocoa crop in advance, with prices set by the state, as in Ghana.
The price of cocoa per ton on the international market as of Feb. 18, 2026, is $3,479, equivalent to GH₵38,234.21, after rising to over $10,000 in the closing part of 2025.
Despite international pressure, Côte d’Ivoire has not announced any review of its farmgate prices, unlike Ghana. This is supported by DUBAWA’s Google Keyword Search, which revealed that no credible media organisation in the country or internationally has reported any such price reduction.
However, Reuters reported that, owing to price fluctuations on the international market, exporters are unable to pay the cocoa farmgate price of 2,800 CFA francs.
“Exporters have been refusing to pay the guaranteed 2,800 CFA francs ($5.09) per kg farmgate price the government set at the start of the 2025/26 crop season, according to cooperatives. The exporters say the slump in global prices, which hit their lowest levels in more than two years last week due to falling demand, has made cocoa from the world’s largest producer too expensive,” Reuters reported.
Conclusion
Contrary to the claim by the Ghanaian minister, Côte d’Ivoire has not announced any reduction in the farmgate price of cocoa that President Alassane Ouattara announced in October 2025.
