<p>Agroforestry has received considerable attention in the literature as a pathway to climate-smart agriculture, particularly in cocoa production, which is highly climate-sensitive. Nevertheless, agroforestry adoption remains low, and the determinants of adoption are not yet fully understood. Using qualitative data from 185 households, this study assessed the influence of farmers’ climate risk perceptions on cocoa agroforestry adoption in marginal areas of Ghana. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test for&#xa0;association, and binary logistic regression. Findings indicate that farmers’ understanding of the drivers of change was mixed, and encompassed deforestation (75.5%), natural occurrence (12%), sins of mankind (9.4%) and prophesied end times (3.1%). Despite attributing climate change mainly to deforestation, the link between forest loss and carbon emissions was generally not recognised by farmers. The logistic regression model revealed that while perception of agroforestry as the most beneficial climate-smart strategy for farmers influenced cocoa agroforestry adoption positively (<i>p</i> = 0.004), adoption was negatively influenced by perception of delayed and declining seasonal rainfall (<i>p</i> = 0.028), attribution of climate change to spiritual factors (<i>p</i> = 0.056), and lack of knowledge of the most beneficial climate-smart strategy for farmers (<i>p</i> = 0.028). Findings suggest that the farmer’s rainfall risk perceptions and spiritual beliefs are important considerations in agroforestry adoption decision-making at the local level. To facilitate agroforestry adoption in local communities, findings further underscore the need to design a comprehensive climate education programme for farmers. Climate education should be designed to strengthen farmers’ knowledge of anthropogenic carbon emissions, while debunking their misconceptions about spiritual factors.</p>