The Minority Caucus in Parliament has reminded President John Dramani Mahama’s government to immediately increase in the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,000 to GH¢6,000 per 64kg bag in fulfillment of the promise it made to cocoa farmers.
It warned that failure to act swiftly risked economic sabotage, border smuggling, and betrayal of Ghana’s hardworking cocoa farmers.
In a scathing rebuke of government inaction over cocoa producer prices at a news conference in Kumasi at Miklin Hotel, the Minority Caucus, led by its Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku urged the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the current administration to stop “shifting blame”
Instead, they want the government to deliver on the promises it made to cocoa farmers during the 2024 election campaign.
The immediate past New Patriotic Party (NPP) government set the cocoa producer price at GH¢48,000 per tonne for the 2024/2025 crop season, representing a significant increase from previous years.
This translated into GH¢3,000 per 64kg bag.
However, during the 2024 electioneering campaign, then flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama promised to increase the price of cocoa per 64kg bag to GH¢6,000 to reflect the prevailing world market prices.
Having successfully transitioned into government, the NDC has since backtracked on its promise, and instead issuing contradictory statements in an attempt to skip being held accountable.
On April 8, 2025, COCOBOD cited “operational challenges” and other factors as reasons the producer price could not be adjusted.
A day after, on April 9, 2025, another release provided different justifications, signaling an inconsistency in their statements.
The Minority Caucus worried about this trend, slammed the COCOBOD for issuing those contradictory statements within a 24-hour period and described their action as “shocking and highly disappointing”.
The group questioned whether the government was backtracking on key manifesto pledges, including the assurance to pay farmers 70% of the Free-On-Board (FOB) price and a campaign promise to raise cocoa prices to GH¢6,000 per 64kg bag.
“They promised farmers GH¢6,000 per bag. Now they claim they can’t increase the price. Were those just empty words for votes?” the Minority queried.
Pointing to COCOBOD’s strong financial standing, the group argued that the agency has both the economic size and capacity to absorb any financial strain resulting from a price hike.
With over 560,000 tonnes of cocoa already purchased and over US$2 billion in receipts reported through the Bank of Ghana, the Caucus contended that farmers deserve a fair share of the cocoa export value.
Threats of smuggling
The Minority caucus also raised red flags over a deepening regional threat.
Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana’s neighbouring cocoa producing country, recently raised its farm gate cocoa price by over 22%, creating a price disparity that the Minority fears could trigger mass smuggling of Ghana’s cocoa across the border.
At current exchange rates, Ivorian farmers earn over GH¢3,600 per bag, GH¢600 higher than their Ghanaian counterparts.
The Caucus warned that failure to match regional prices could lead to a surge in cocoa smuggling and illegal mining, as farmers abandon unprofitable cocoa farms for more lucrative ventures.
“The government must act now to protect our farmers and secure Ghana’s cocoa economy. This is not just about economics, it’s about national security.
“No more excuses. COCOBOD and the government must keep their promise and pay the Ghanaian cocoa farmer a minimum of GHS 6,000 per bag,” the minority declared.
