The Member of Parliament for the Manso Adubia Constituency, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, has sounded a strong warning over what he describes as a growing threat to Ghana’s agricultural sector due to the increasing scamming of cocoa farmers and the steady decline in peasant food crop farming, particularly local rice production.
Hon. Frimpong Addo, who previously served as a Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture under the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, said the situation requires urgent national attention to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and ensure the sustainability of the country’s agricultural sector.
According to the lawmaker, cocoa farmers in many rural communities are increasingly becoming victims of fraudulent activities carried out by unscrupulous individuals who exploit their vulnerability through deceptive trading practices and false purchasing arrangements. He explained that such practices continue to rob hardworking farmers of their legitimate earnings and weaken their confidence in the cocoa marketing system.
Hon. Frimpong Addo noted that cocoa farming remains one of the most important pillars of Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and providing employment for thousands of rural households. He therefore stressed that protecting cocoa farmers from exploitation must be treated as a national priority.
The MP called on relevant regulatory bodies and security agencies to intensify their efforts to clamp down on individuals involved in fraudulent dealings within the cocoa sector. He further urged authorities to strengthen monitoring systems and introduce effective measures that will promote transparency and fairness in cocoa trading across the country.
Beyond the challenges facing cocoa farmers, Hon. Frimpong Addo also raised concerns about the alarming decline of peasant food crop farming, especially the cultivation of local rice.
He explained that many smallholder farmers who once depended on rice farming and other staple crop production are gradually abandoning their farms due to a range of difficulties, including limited access to affordable farm inputs, inadequate technical support, market constraints, and the increasing lure of illegal mining activities in some farming communities.
According to him, the decline in local rice production could have serious implications for Ghana’s food security if urgent measures are not taken to revive the sector and support farmers.
Hon. Frimpong Addo therefore called on government, agricultural institutions, and development partners to implement targeted policies and programmes aimed at strengthening smallholder farming, improving access to fertilisers and improved seeds, and creating reliable markets for local farm produce.
He also encouraged young people in rural communities to consider agriculture as a viable and sustainable livelihood, stressing that with the right investment and support, the sector has the potential to create jobs and drive economic growth.
Hon. Frimpong Addo concluded by urging all stakeholders to work collaboratively to protect cocoa farmers from exploitation, revitalise local rice farming, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s agricultural sector for the benefit of future generations.
