The Africa University College of Communications Branch of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (AUCB–TESCON) has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a monumental breach of trust against Ghana’s cocoa farmers, calling on the government to take immediate steps to honour the GH¢6,000 cocoa producer price pledge made during the 2024 elections.
In a detailed press release titled “The Betrayal of Ghana’s Cocoa Farmers: A Monumental Breach of Trust,” the student political group lamented the economic hardship confronting cocoa farmers across the country and expressed disappointment over the unfulfilled promise, which was a major electoral commitment by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The release underscores the pivotal role cocoa farmers play in Ghana’s economy, highlighting that Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after Côte d’Ivoire, producing between 600,000 and 900,000 metric tonnes annually depending on the season. The cocoa sector directly supports more than 800,000 farming families and indirectly sustains over two million Ghanaians, contributing significantly to the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
AUCB–TESCON pointed out that under the administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, cocoa producer prices had increased over the years, reaching GH¢3,100 per 64kg bag at the start of the 2023/2024 season. While these increases were welcomed, the group noted that the NDC had, during the 2024 campaign, promised to raise the price further to GH¢6,000 per bag—a pledge reiterated at rallies and community engagements across cocoa-producing regions.
The group warned that failure to honour this promise is exacerbating rural poverty, driving school dropouts in cocoa-growing communities, increasing rural-urban migration, and threatening the upkeep and future productivity of cocoa farms. AUCB–TESCON described the situation as not only an economic injustice but also a political betrayal, as farmers feel their trust and electoral support have been disregarded.
The press release urged the government to urgently reassess cocoa producer prices, stressing the need for transparency and accountability. It recommended that if the GH¢6,000 target cannot be implemented immediately, a phased increment strategy with clear timelines should be communicated to farmers to protect their livelihoods.
AUCB–TESCON Press Release Contact Details:
H.E. Kwasi Ohene-Bugyei (President) – 0241421593
H.E. Stephen Boateng Osei-Bonsu (Vice President) – 0241421593
Lisa Abiana Codjoe (Secretary) – 0553706609 / 0241819541
Justice Kwasi Forson (Communication Director) – 0552680408
Muniatu Mohammed (Nasara Coordinator) – 0554750725
Tedra Bampoe (Women’s Commissioner) – Contact not listed
Ebenezer Orkoh Ayesu (Organizer) – 0559761014
Daniel Akowuah (Treasurer) – 0596055084
