The People’s Forum, an initiative aimed at amplifying the voices of ordinary Ghanaians in national discourse, has mounted billboards in Accra and other parts of the country in response to the government’s mid-season reduction of the cocoa producer price to GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag.

The billboards feature an image of a cocoa farmer seated among harvested pods, accompanied by the message: “OUR SWEAT, THEIR EXCUSES, GH¢2,587 PER BAG? HOW DO WE SURVIVE?”

The campaign also includes the hashtags #CocoaFarmersMatter and #JusticeForFarmers, along with references to The People’s Forum and calls for public engagement.

The campaign follows the announcement by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on February 12, 2026, that the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) had adjusted 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.

The revised price represents a 28.6 percent reduction from the GH¢3,625 per bag (GH¢58,000 per tonne) set at the beginning of the season in October 2025.

According to government officials, the adjustment reflects a decline in global cocoa prices from highs above $10,000–$12,000 per tonne in late 2024 to about $3,600–$3,700 per tonne in recent months.

Authorities have also cited liquidity challenges at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), delayed payments to farmers, and a backlog of unsold beans. The new producer price is reported to represent approximately 90 percent of the achieved Free on Board (FOB) export value, compared to about 70 percent under the previous arrangement.

The price reduction has generated discussion in cocoa-growing regions, including Western North, Ashanti, and Eastern. Some farmers and associations have expressed concerns about rising input costs, including fertilizers, pesticides, and labor, and the potential impact on household incomes.

Others have questioned the precedent of a mid-season price adjustment.

The People’s Forum stated that the billboard campaign is intended to highlight concerns raised by cocoa farmers and to encourage national engagement on the issue.

The group has indicated that it has held forums and outreach activities with farmers as part of its advocacy efforts.