The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has refuted claims circulating on social media that the government has announced an increase in cocoa prices, describing the reports as entirely false.
In a statement, the regulatory body urged cocoa farmers, industry stakeholders, and the general public to disregard the misinformation and rely solely on official communication channels for accurate updates on cocoa pricing.
The false claims, which surfaced in a social media flyer, suggested that the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, had declared that cocoa farmers would receive 70% of the world market price for their produce. COCOBOD, however, has labeled this assertion as misleading.
“Our attention has been drawn to a false flyer circulating on social media claiming that the Minister for Food and Agriculture has announced an increase in cocoa prices. This information is completely untrue,” COCOBOD stated in a social media post.
“We urge our cherished stakeholders and the public to disregard this fake news and rely only on official communication from COCOBOD and the Ministry,” it added.
The development comes at a time when cocoa farmers and industry players are closely monitoring potential price adjustments amid fluctuations in the global cocoa market. Many farmers have been advocating for higher prices to offset rising production costs and declining output due to climate-related risks.
The issue of cocoa pricing remains a critical one for Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer. COCOBOD has assured that any official changes to cocoa prices will be communicated through the appropriate channels to ensure transparency and avoid unnecessary speculation.