Ghana: Cocoa farmers demand fair prices, sustainable practices

Ghanaian cocoa farmers are advocating for improved pricing and sustainable practices, submitting a formal grievance with Cocobod, the state cocoa regulator.

Signed by 30 farmers, the complaint highlights issues like low earnings, child labor, deforestation, and pesticide use, pushing for a “living income” and stricter oversight on corporate commitments to sustainability.

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This complaint leverages a $600 million loan arrangement by the African Development Bank, which mandates Cocobod’s grievance mechanism for addressing such concerns. Farmers demand “a higher price…a living income,” arguing that it would be a key step in combating child labor, according to the complaint obtained by Reuters.

While Cocobod recently increased farmer prices by nearly 45% for the 2024/25 season, low harvests and volatile global markets continue to challenge the industry.

The ongoing crisis has led to cocoa trading prices hitting historic highs, with December contracts exceeding $7,000 a ton.

The Civic Response non-profit, the University of Ghana School of Law, and Corporate Accountability Lab have supported the farmers’ submission, underscoring the need for transparency and sustainability across the cocoa supply chain.