Broken Promises: NDC Government ‘Tricked’ Cocoa Farmers with New Producers Price-Minority Slams
The Minority caucus in Parliament has launched a scathing critique of the government’s recently announced cocoa producer price, accusing it of deceiving farmers and manipulating figures to shortchange them.
The government on Monday, August 4, 2025, announced a new producer price of GH¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag for the 2025/2026 cocoa season—up from GH¢3,100. This new price translates to GH¢51,660 per tonne or US$5,040 per tonne using an average exchange rate of GH¢10.25 to the US dollar.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who chairs the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC), stated that the new rate represents 70% of the Free-On-Board (FOB) value, which has been benchmarked at US$7,200 per tonne. He emphasized that the increase represents a 62.58% rise in dollar terms, fulfilling President Mahama’s pledge to ensure cocoa farmers receive a fairer share of international market value.
However, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs and MP for Offinso South, said the new price is not only inadequate but also falls below expectations and campaign promises made to cocoa farmers.
“This new farm gate price is completely unacceptable and a betrayal of the trust farmers placed in this government. It does not reflect current market realities,” Dr. Opoku said at a press briefing.
He argued that Ghanaian cocoa farmers are receiving less than their counterparts in neighbouring Ivory Coast, despite the significant contributions they make to Ghana’s economy.
Quoting President Mahama’s campaign promise that cocoa farmers would be “very, very, very happy” with the producer price, Dr. Opoku questioned whether the newly announced rate lives up to that pledge.
“Today, cocoa farmers are neither happy nor satisfied. They are disappointed, disillusioned, and feel deceived,” he said.
He described the GH¢3,228.75 per bag rate using terms he attributed to farmers themselves: “ridiculous, laughable, comical, upsetting, shameful, unfair — a stab in the back.”
Dr. Opoku also challenged the government to explain why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in opposition once demanded a farm gate price of at least GH¢6,000 per bag, yet now offers almost half of that.
He accused the government of shifting blame onto global market conditions, exchange rates, and inherited financial challenges at COCOBOD, while failing to take responsibility for its own promises and policy decisions.
“What has changed? Didn’t the same factors exist when you made those lofty promises in 2024?” he asked.
The Minority MP further dismissed claims by Dr. Forson that cocoa inputs such as fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides are being provided free to farmers. According to him, these are already factored into the FOB price, meaning they are paid for with farmers’ own money.
He also raised questions about COCOBOD’s financial state, demanding transparency regarding revenue generated in the 2024/2025 season and how much has been spent on administrative costs, including recent staff transfers.
“If COCOBOD is broke, how are they spending millions on transfer grants for employees? How much revenue have they brought in from cocoa sales this season? We demand answers,” he stated.
The Minority called for an immediate review of the producer price, warning that failure to do so may further demotivate cocoa farmers and push many toward abandoning cocoa farming altogether or leasing lands to illegal miners.
“We must protect our cocoa industry, honour our farmers, and secure Ghana’s place in the global cocoa market. This deception must stop,” Dr. Opoku concluded.
The new producer price is scheduled to take effect Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Source : Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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