Cocoa farmers deserve better – Minority slams price cut

The Minority NPP in Parliament has strongly criticised the government's decision to reduce the cocoa producer price, describing the move as unfair to farmers and detrimental to the sector.

Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku, addressing the media on Thursday, February 12, expressed outrage over the reduction, which lowers the price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag, arguing that such a sharp cut, amounting to more than 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 demanded a reduction in the salary of public sector workers in line with the decline in farmgate prices of cocoa, urging the government to reconsider 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 criticism follows the government's announcement of a reduction in the producer price from GH¢51,660 to GH¢41,392 per tonne for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season, a measure officials say is aimed at stabilising the cocoa sector amid financial pressures.