Report by Joycelyn Adoma Arthur- 07/04/2024

The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to raise the farm-gate price of cocoa in order to improve the living conditions of cocoa farmers in Ghana.

In a statement signed by Eric Opoku, the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs, the Minority argued that aligning the farm-gate price with the current world market price would not only motivate farmers but also discourage cocoa smuggling in the country.

The statement also criticized the management of COCOBOD for prioritizing purchases such as iPad keyboards for board members over the welfare of cocoa farmers. Additionally, the Minority expressed dissatisfaction with the current farm-gate price paid to cocoa farmers, especially considering the recent significant increase in world market prices. While a bag of cocoa is being sold on the world market at approximately GH¢8,125, Ghanaian farmers are only receiving a meager GH¢1,308 from the government.

The Minority further raised concerns about the decline in Ghana’s cocoa production under the current government, stating that the 2023/2024 crop season is expected to be the lowest in two decades, with an estimated yield of about 450,000 metric tons. This decline not only impacts the incomes and purchasing power of cocoa farmers but also worsens their living conditions.

Accusing the government of mismanagement, the Minority highlighted the losses suffered by the cocoa sector, specifically the smuggling of approximately 150,000 metric tons of cocoa valued at nearly $400,000,000 last year. The Minority attributed this smuggling to farmers not being offered competitive prices for their cocoa.

In light of these concerns, the statement called for immediate action to rescue the cocoa sector from further decline and emphasized the need for the government to prioritize the well-being of cocoa farmers by increasing the farm-gate price of cocoa in Ghana.