Geospatial distribution of soil organic carbon and soil pH within the cocoa agroecological zones of Ghana

•A new spatial pattern of soil organic carbon and soil pH for the cocoa districts and agroecological zones of Ghana.•Unsuitably low cocoa soil organic and strong acidity.•A loss of soil organic carbon in a pattern that reflects historic boom-bust cycle of cocoa hot and cold spots transitions.•Homogeneity of soil organic carbon is moderate within a longer range than soil pH.•Covariates of soil pH like Fe and Al elongate the range of homogeneity in favour of soil pH.