BY Daniel Bampoe
The simmering controversy over the National Democratic Congress government’s recent reduction in cocoa producer prices has shifted from Parliament to the farms, as Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, led a delegation of Minority Members of Parliament on a tour of cocoa-growing communities in the Eastern Region.
The visit forms part of the caucus’ growing campaign against what it describes as an unjustified price cut that places additional strain on cocoa farmers already grappling with rising production costs and economic hardship.
The NDC government has defended the adjustment, explaining that the reduction reflects declining global cocoa prices and prevailing international market conditions.
Officials argue that as a commodity traded on the global market, cocoa prices are influenced by international supply and demand dynamics, leaving limited room for domestic discretion.
However, the Minority Caucus insists that farmers should not be made to bear the full brunt of global market volatility, particularly at a time when input costs, including fertilizers, agrochemicals and labour, continue to rise.
During interactions with farmers, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh described the price reduction as a “rip-off,” arguing that producers are being unfairly shortchanged.
He maintained that instead of cutting the producer price, the government should explore a financial bailout or subsidy package to cushion cocoa farmers and protect the long-term sustainability of the sector.
According to him, the cocoa industry remains a backbone of Ghana’s economy and foreign exchange earnings, and policies affecting farmers must prioritise their welfare and productivity.
The tour delegation included prominent Minority MPs such as Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Isaac Yaw Opoku, Samuel Awuku, Ida Adjoa Asiedu and Gideon Boako, among others.
Their presence underscored the political weight the Minority is attaching to the issue, signalling a coordinated parliamentary pushback against the price policy.
The Minority Caucus has indicated that the Eastern Region tour is part of a broader engagement strategy with cocoa farmers across producing regions.
The caucus says it will continue to advocate for policies that safeguard farmer incomes, strengthen incentives for production, and ensure the long-term viability of the cocoa industry.
