Parliament debates government’s reduction of cocoa producer pMembers of Parliament from both sides of the House engaged in a heated debate over the recent reduction of the cocoa producer price from GHC 3,625 to GHC 2,587 per 64-kilogram bag, as announced by Finance Minister Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The Minority Caucus criticised the move, describing it as unfair to cocoa farmers and urging the Government to immediately restore the original producer price. Minority Leader Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin called on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to compensate farmers and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) for losses incurred as a result of the price reduction.
“The decision undermines the livelihoods of farmers who rely on cocoa as their main source of income,” Markin said during the parliamentary session.
In contrast, the Majority Caucus defended the Government’s position, highlighting reforms aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability and financial viability in the cocoa sector. Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga explained that Cabinet convened an emergency session to review systemic challenges facing the industry and proposed measures to protect farmer interests.
“These reforms are designed to guarantee fair prices to cocoa farmers while addressing historical issues that have long affected the sector,” Ayariga said, assuring that the decisions would transform cocoa production and strengthen the sector’s resilience.
The debate underscores the growing tension between immediate farmer welfare and the Government’s long-term economic strategy for Ghana’s cocoa industry, which remains a critical driver of national revenue and rural livelihoods.
Parliamentarians from both sides called for continued dialogue between COCOBOD, farmers, and policymakers to ensure that the cocoa industry remains both profitable for farmers and sustainable for the nation.rice