The Minority in Parliament has criticized the government for what it considers an insufficient increase in the price of cocoa beans. The caucus argues that the government should have raised the price by no less than GH¢2,500 per bag.
This criticism comes in response to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s announcement of a more than 60% hike in cocoa prices for this year’s cocoa season, translating to GH¢1,308 per bag. President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the challenges faced by cocoa farmers due to low international cocoa prices, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite these difficulties, he mentioned that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the government had decided to raise the producer price of cocoa.
However, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson expressed disappointment at the announced price increase. Speaking at an event in the Ahafo Region, he explained that farmers should have received at least GH¢2,500 per cocoa bag given the high price of the commodity on the international market.
Dr. Forson argued that the government is taking advantage of cocoa farmers, asserting that if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were in power, cocoa farmers would have received GH¢2,800 per bag, including a premium of GH¢300.
Meanwhile, Minority Spokesperson on Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Eric Opoku also criticized the government, claiming that the NPP administration cannot claim to have done anything extraordinary when the international cocoa price has reached a record high. Opoku emphasized the NDC’s superior record in dealing with cocoa farmers.
The government’s decision to increase the cocoa price has sparked a debate over whether the raise is sufficient, considering the challenges faced by cocoa farmers and the soaring international cocoa prices.