The government has honoured its significant agricultural commitment by reinstating the free fertilizer and insecticide program for cocoa farmers under President John Mahama’s administration. This initiative is supported by a substantial budget allocation of GH¢5.1 billion for 2026.
During the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament on Thursday, November 13, 2025, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated that this initiative represents a strategic investment aimed at revitalizing cocoa production, which has experienced years of decline.
Dr. Forson explained that the government has allocated GH¢2.4 billion for the Cocoa Disease and Pest Control (CODAPEC) program, which includes free mass spraying, and GH¢2.7 billion for the distribution of free fertilizer. These measures are part of a broader effort to enhance cocoa production in the 2025/2026 crop season.
“Mr. Speaker, production for 2025/2026 is projected to reach 650,000 metric tonnes. To achieve this goal, the Government has budgeted GH¢2.4 billion for CODAPEC and GH¢2.7 billion for free fertilizer distribution,” Dr. Ato Forson announced.
The restoration of the programme marks the fulfilment of a key 2024 campaign pledge by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reinstate the free fertilizer policy cancelled by the previous NPP administration under former President Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
During Mahama’s first term, farmers received free fertilizers and insecticides, but the programme was scrapped in 2018 when the Akufo-Addo administration took office. The then-new government began selling fertilizers, including previously procured stock, resulting in sharply rising input costs for farmers. Combined with the widespread destruction caused by galamsey, cocoa yields deteriorated significantly.
With Mahama’s return to power in January 2025 following the NDC’s sweeping victory in both the presidential and parliamentary polls, expectations were high for the revival of the programme.
In August, Dr. Ato Forson confirmed that the 2026 budget would make provisions for: Free granular and liquid cocoa fertilizers, Free insecticides, Free spraying machines, Free fungicides, and Free flower inducers. The 2026 budgetary allocation now puts this commitment into action.
Despite global cocoa price softness, the finance minister said Ghana’s cocoa sector is beginning to rebound. Output increased from 530,783 MT in 2023/2024 to 603,840 MT in 2024/2025, driven by targeted interventions.
To curb smuggling, the government also increased the farm-gate price from GH¢49,600/MT to GH¢58,000/MT, reducing cross-border price incentives.
Additionally, of the 333,000 MT low-priced forward sales rolled over from 2023/2024, 243,000 MT have been settled. The remaining 90,000 MT (US$234m) will be regularised in 2025/2026.
COCOBOD’s debt has dropped from GH¢32.0 billion (March 2025) to GH¢20.6 billion (September 2025). The controversial cocoa roads debt has been reduced from GH¢21.0 billion to GH¢6.9 billion.
Dr. Ato Forson also revealed that the government has initiated processes to amend the COCOBOD Act (PNDCL 81) to transfer oversight from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to the Ministry of Finance, a move he says will strengthen fiscal accountability and risk management.
