A cocoa farmer identified as Emmanuel Nodjo has expressed his displeasure at the government’s new producer price for cocoa for the 2025/26 season.
According to the cocoa farmer, they were expecting a minimum of GH¢4000, as the GH¢3,228.75 is still small.
He further revealed that many cocoa farmers are not very happy with the price.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, August 5, Emmanuel Nodjo stated bluntly, “We were expecting better than this, so the price is not encouraging”.
“The farmers are not very happy with the price,” he said.
The cocoa farmer added, “The price is not appreciating, and we are not happy. We were expecting better than this, at least ¢4000, but it didn’t happen. That should be a minimum; the GH¢3,228.75 is still small, and farmers are not happy.
It will be recalled that the NDC in opposition promised cocoa farmers that when they win power, they would pay cocoa farmers GH₵6,000 per bag; however, the NDC government, on August 4, announced GHS3,228.75 per bag.
The minority MPs have since been criticising the government over their failure to fulfil their promise.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the minority leader in parliament, has called out the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Afenyo Markin called out the NDC government, stating that their promise of GHC6,000 per bag for cocoa farmers was a “betrayal” as they delivered only GHC3,228.
Afenyo Markin is quoted by TV3 as saying, NDC promised cocoa farmers GHC6,000 per bag. Today, they delivered GHC3,228; barely half of what they pledged. Spin it all you want; it’s a betrayal, another broken promise”.
Another NPP MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, has asked the National Democratic Congress government if the Producer Price of Cocoa for the 2025/2026 season is what the promised cocoa farmers in the 2024 elections.
Oppong Nkrumah noted that the NDC government always try to hide the truth, but they are going to work the numbers.
According to him, one must ask oneself how much Akufo-Addo increased cocoa prices during his tenure and compare that to what John Mahama and Ato Forson have done.
Speaking to the media, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah detailed, “We are just working the numbers, we have just come out of a meeting, and we have seen percentages, and they are using the dollar. You know, the NDC, what they do is they try to hide the truth, so you have to take your time and work the numbers.
The most important thing, and I encourage all of you and your newsrooms to do pick the cedi value of a bag of cocoa on the market today, compare it to the new price they have announced and see”.
He noted that “Somebody is telling me the change is about 100 cedis or something. Is that what they told the farmers? Is that what Ato Forson told the farmers is that what he told them. So please, if the change is 128 cedis, ask yourself the last time Akufo-Addo increased a bag of cocoa, how much did he increase it by, and when Ato Forson and President Mahama increased a bag of cocoa, how much did they increase it?
At the end of the day, that is the analysis. Go and ask the farmers on the ground, they will tell you”.
In addition, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, the Assin South member of parliament, has accused John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of deceiving Ghana’s cocoa farmers.
According to Ntim Fordjour, cocoa farmers are highly disappointed in the deception of the NDC and President John Mahama.
In a post on social media, Rev Ntim Fordjour stated, “Cocoa farmers are highly disappointed in the deception of NDC and Prez Mahama’s government”.
He further described the NDC pledge as politically misleading: “They later promised to pay GH₵7,200 per bag in 2025”.
“Today, cocoa farmers are shortchanged with paltry GH₵3,228 per bag”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Minority have also rejected the new producer price for cocoa and is demanding an apology to cocoa farmers and accuses the government of deception over pricing.
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