President Mahama Reveals 50-Acre Cocoa Farm Stake at 2026 Tree Crops Summit | Discuss Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama disclosed his direct involvement in the agricultural sector during his address at the inaugural Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Speaking at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), the President revealed he owns a 50-acre cocoa farm, an investment he says allows him to personally experience the impact of national pricing policies on the livelihoods of farmers.

President John Dramani Mahama

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Empathy and Policy Connection through Personal Farming

President Mahama emphasized that his role as a cocoa grower provides him with firsthand insight into the challenges faced by producers across the country.

• Direct Impact of Price Fluctuations: He noted that government-mandated price reductions affect his own earnings, stating, "I am a cocoa farmer... so when the price is reduced by the government, it affects me too".

• Understanding Input Costs: The President highlighted that he personally feels the weight of high costs for essentials like fertilizer, noting he buys these inputs for his own 50-acre farm.

• Farmer-Centered Decision Making: Mahama stressed the importance of empathy in leadership, arguing that policy decisions should be informed by the real-world impact they have on farming families.

Strategic Reforms for the Cocoa Industry

Beyond his personal connection to the land, President Mahama outlined a series of structural reforms intended to stabilize the sector and increase economic sovereignty.

70% Price Guarantee and Financial Independence

The administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Ghanaian cocoa farmers receive at least 70% of the gross free-on-board (FOB) world market price. This follows a recent necessary price adjustment where the producer price was reset to GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag (approximately 90% of the achieved gross FOB) to align with a volatile international market where prices dropped from $7,200 to $4,100 per tonne.

Ending Foreign Financing by 2030

President Mahama announced a radical shift to end the decades-old practice of using foreign syndicated loans for cocoa purchases.

• Domestic Bond Financing: By 2030, Ghana aims to use domestic currency and bonds to purchase cocoa, eliminating the need to pledge beans as collateral to foreign lenders.

• Unlocking Local Processing: This new financing model is expected to immediately free up 400,000 tonnes of cocoa beans for local processors, which were previously tied up in collateralized export agreements.

Pivoting to Value Addition

The President urged a fundamental shift from raw material exports to industrial processing to shield the Ghanaian economy from global price shocks. He described the current global market instability as a "turning point" for the industry, emphasizing that adding value locally is the only way to ensure long-term sustainability for farmers and create jobs for the country’s youth.

What Happens Next

The Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit will continue through February 20, 2026, as the government seeks to secure further investment for its "Agriculture for Economic Transformation" agenda