In a bold and visually striking display of public advocacy, The People’s Forum has erected large billboards across Ghana’s capital and key areas, amplifying the growing outrage among cocoa farmers following the government’s mid season reduction of the farmgate price to GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag.
The eye-catching billboards, which appeared overnight, feature a poignant image of a weary cocoa farmer seated amid harvested cocoa pods in a forest setting. He appears deep in thought, resting his head on his hand. The headline slogan reads: “OUR SWEAT, THEIR EXCUSES, GH¢2,587 PER BAG? HOW DO WE SURVIVE?” The design uses bold red and white colors, with the hashtag campaign #CocoaFarmersMatter and #JusticeForFarmers prominently displayed, alongside references to The People’s Forum and calls for public engagement.
The campaign comes just days after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced on February 12, 2026, that the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) had reset the producer price for the remainder of the 2025/2026 cocoa season to GH¢41,392 per tonne (equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag). This marks a sharp 28.6% cut from the GH¢3,625 per bag (GH¢58,000 per tonne) set at the start of the season in October 2025.
Government officials have justified the adjustment as necessary due to a steep decline in global cocoa prices from record highs above $10,000–$12,000 per tonne in late 2024 to around $3,700–$3,600 per tonne recently, coupled with liquidity challenges at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), delayed farmer payments since late 2025, and a backlog of unsold beans. The new price reportedly represents about 90% of the achieved Free on Board (FOB) export value, a higher share than the previous 70%.
However, the move has sparked widespread discontent in cocoa growing communities, particularly in regions like the Western North, Ashanti, and Eastern, where many farmers argue the reduction exacerbates already high input costs (fertilizers, pesticides, labor) and threatens livelihoods. Critics, including farmer associations and opposition voices, have called it unprecedented for a mid-season price cut and accused the administration of failing to honor earlier campaign promises of significantly higher producer prices (some as high as GH¢6,000+ per bag).
The People’s Forum, a vocal advocacy platform known for amplifying grassroots concerns, described the billboards as a “wake-up call” to authorities and the public. The group has engaged directly with affected farmers through forums and calls, with reports indicating strong sentiment that farmers “won’t accept this insultingly low price reduction” and may resort to demonstrations if demands for justice are ignored.
Social media reactions to the billboards have been swift, with many Ghanaians sharing photos from Accra streets and expressing solidarity under the campaign hashtags. Some have praised the creative approach for bringing rural struggles into urban visibility, while others debate the economic realities versus farmer hardships.
As the cocoa sector central to Ghana’s economy and employing millions faces ongoing volatility, The People’s Forum’s billboard strategy has successfully thrust the farmers’ cry for survival into the national spotlight. Whether it prompts policy reconsideration or further dialogue remains to be seen, but the message is unmistakable: for many, the current price leaves little room for survival.
Source: metrotvonline.com
