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The opposition in Parliament has harshly condemned the government’s choice to lower the cocoa producer price, labeling the action as unjust to farmers and harmful to the industry.
Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, the Ranking Member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, spoke to the media on Thursday, February 12, and voiced his anger about the price reduction, which drops the cost from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag, contending that this drastic decrease, exceeding GH¢1,000 per bag, is unprecedented.
“This has never happened. Why are we treating cocoa farmers this way? The cocoa farmer has never enjoyed the full benefit of the FOB price. Cocoa farmers have sacrificed for this country,” Dr Opoku said.
He requested a decrease in the wages of public sector employees to match the drop in farmgate prices of cocoa, encouraging the government to reevaluate its decision.
“If the cocoa farmer’s price is going to be reduced by almost 30 per cent, then everybody’s pay in this country should also be slashed by that margin. Is the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD’s salary and allowance going to be reduced by the same margin?. Today is a sad day for the country. The President should come again. Cocoa farmers deserve better,” he stated.
The backlash comes after the government’s declaration of a decrease in the producer price from GH¢51,660 to GH¢41,392 per tonne for the rest of the 2025/2026 crop season, a step that officials claim is intended to stabilize the cocoa industry amid financial challenges.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
