Ghana’s cocoa farmers are set to benefit from a GHC5.1 billion allocation for free fertilizers and insecticides in the 2026 budget, as President John Mahama’s government fulfils its promise to reinstate the program.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the initiative, stating it’s a strategic investment to boost cocoa production, projected to reach 650,000 metric tonnes in 2025/2026. The program, scrapped by the previous NPP government, will provide free cocoa fertilizers, insecticides, spraying machines, fungicides, and flower inducers to farmers.
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The move is expected to revive the cocoa sector, which had dwindled under the previous administration. The government has also increased the cocoa farm-gate price from GHC49,600/MT to GHC58,000/MT to curb smuggling and ensure competitive returns for farmers.
The cocoa sector is showing early signs of recovery, with output rising from 530,783 metric tonnes in 2023/2024 to 603,840 metric tonnes by end-2024/2025. COCOBOD’s outstanding debt has declined from GHC32 billion to GHC20.6 billion, and cocoa roads debt has been reduced from GHC21 billion to GHC6.9 billion.
Legislative steps are underway to amend the COCOBOD Act, shifting oversight from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to the Ministry of Finance, to strengthen fiscal risk management and accountability.
