The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has warned of a possible second reduction in the cocoa producer price and is urging cocoa farmers across the country to organize and resist any such move that could further affect their livelihoods.
The warning was issued by the Member of Parliament for the Offinso South Constituency, Isaac Yaw Opoku, during an engagement with cocoa farmers at Dannso on Monday.
According to the legislator, information available to the Minority suggests that authorities may be considering another downward adjustment of the cocoa producer price, a development he said would severely worsen the already challenging conditions facing farmers in cocoa-growing communities.
The engagement formed part of a week-long outreach by the Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party in Parliament aimed at interacting with cocoa farmers in several communities across the Ashanti Region to discuss challenges affecting the cocoa sector.
Dr. Opoku expressed strong concern over the recent reduction in the cocoa producer price from GH₵3,625 to GH₵2,587, describing the decision as unfair to farmers who invest enormous labour, time, and financial resources into cocoa production.
He urged cocoa farmers to remain vigilant and organize peaceful protests to resist any further reduction in the producer price. According to him, failure by farmers to take a firm stand could embolden authorities to introduce additional price cuts.
Drawing from his personal experience in cocoa farming, the Offinso South lawmaker emphasized the demanding nature of cocoa cultivation, noting that farmers deserve fair and adequate compensation for their sacrifices and the critical role they play in sustaining Ghana’s economy.
Several members of the Minority Caucus joined the engagement with the farmers. Among them was the Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for the Asokwa Constituency, Patricia Appiagyei.
Other Members of Parliament present included Patrick Boakye Yiadom, MP for Obuasi East Constituency; Salam Daamata Appianimaa, MP for Afigya Kwabre South Constituency; Frank Yeboah, MP for Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency; Seth Osei Akoto, MP for Atwima Mponua Constituency; and Asafo Adjei, MP for Bosome Freho Constituency.
Regional executives of the New Patriotic Party were also present to support the engagement and interact with the farmers.
Addressing the gathering, the Bosome Freho legislator, Asafo Adjei, criticized the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as policy decisions that have negatively affected cocoa farmers.
According to him, rather than accepting responsibility for the challenges confronting the cocoa sector, the government has continued to blame the previous administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
He argued that the government must instead take responsibility for the current situation and apologize to cocoa farmers for what he described as the poor management of the cocoa sector.
Meanwhile, cocoa farmers who attended the meeting expressed frustration over the reduction in the producer price and signaled their readiness to stage a massive protest if another price cut is announced.
The farmers called on the government to restore the cocoa producer price to the previous level introduced under the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, insisting that the current reduction is unacceptable.
They further warned that continued reductions in cocoa prices could significantly undermine their livelihoods and threaten the long-term sustainability of cocoa farming in Ghana.
