The Africa University College of Communications Branch of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (AUCB–TESCON) has strongly criticized what it describes as a monumental breach of trust against Ghana’s cocoa farmers, calling for immediate government intervention to address concerns over the unfulfilled GH¢6,000 cocoa producer price pledge.
In a strongly worded statement titled “The Betrayal of Ghana’s Cocoa Farmers: A Monumental Breach of Trust,” the group lamented the economic hardships confronting cocoa farmers across the country and expressed disappointment over what it termed a failure to honour a major campaign promise made during the 2024 general elections.
According to the statement, Ghana’s cocoa farmers remain the backbone of the national economy, sustaining the country’s foreign exchange earnings through years of labour under challenging conditions. From cocoa-growing communities in the Western North, Ashanti, Bono, Eastern, and Central Regions, thousands of farmers continue to contribute significantly to national development despite facing economic uncertainties.
Ghana is widely recognized as 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 sector directly supports more than 800,000 farming families and indirectly sustains over two million Ghanaians. Cocoa remains one of the country’s leading export commodities, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.
The cocoa pricing system in Ghana is regulated by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), which announces producer prices at the start of each season. Under the administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, cocoa producer prices reportedly increased significantly over the years, rising to GH¢3,100 per 64kg bag at the commencement of the 2023/2024 cocoa season.
AUCB–TESCON noted that although the increments were not without challenges, they were widely perceived as efforts to cushion farmers against global market volatility and domestic inflationary pressures.
However, the group contends that during the 2024 electioneering period, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, made an unequivocal pledge to increase the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,100 to GH¢6,000 per bag upon assuming office. The promise, according to the statement, was reiterated at campaign rallies and engagements in cocoa-growing communities and presented as an immediate economic intervention to transform farmers’ livelihoods.
The group expressed concern that the anticipated increment has not materialized, describing the situation as economically and politically distressing for cocoa farmers who relied on the promise to plan for educational expenses, healthcare needs, and farm expansion.
The statement warned of potential repercussions, including escalating rural poverty, rising school dropout rates in cocoa-producing communities, increased rural-urban migration, and deterioration in cocoa farm maintenance, which could ultimately threaten future production levels. It further cautioned that prolonged inaction could erode public confidence in democratic accountability.
AUCB–TESCON therefore called on the government to urgently reassess the cocoa producer price and ensure greater transparency in decision-making. While acknowledging possible fiscal constraints, the group proposed that if the GH¢6,000 target cannot be implemented immediately, a clearly defined phased increment strategy with specific timelines should be communicated to farmers.
“Cocoa farmers are entitled to dignity, integrity, and economic justice,” the statement emphasized, adding that Ghana’s prosperity has historically been anchored on cocoa production and that safeguarding farmers’ welfare must remain a national priority.
The statement was jointly signed by:
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
