Cocoa farmers in the Eastern Region have threatened to invoke curses on President John Dramani Mahama over the recent reduction in cocoa producer prices and delayed payments for cocoa supplied.
The farmers described the situation as devastating for their livelihoods.
The concerns were raised during a tour of cocoa-growing communities by the Minority in Parliament, who have taken their campaign against the cocoa producer price cut directly to the farmers.
Farmers who gathered to meet the delegation said the situation has made life extremely difficult for many households that depend on cocoa farming for income, with some warning that the policy could push farmers out of the sector.
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At Abirem, where the farmers made the threat, Kojo Frimpong, popularly known as Kujo Joe, a cocoa farmer from Akyem Achiase near Abirem, lamented that despite supplying cocoa several months ago, he has not yet received payment.
“I sold my cocoa, but I didn’t get the money. Five bags have been sold. Even if I forget about those five, at least the recent ten bags I supplied should be paid because I need money to go to the hospital,” he said.
He questioned the current situation in the cocoa sector and called on the government to restore the earlier price that farmers were receiving.
“What is happening to this country? If you don’t have money to pay me, don’t rob me. We are telling the President that cocoa farmers are crying on his head,” he said.
According to him, farmers would accept the removal of any recent increment if it means restoring the previous producer price.
“If the GH¢500 increment is the problem, take it off and give us the old price that was there before.”
Josephine Nyarko, a widow and cocoa farmer from Pankese, said the reduction in cocoa income is affecting her ability to support her children’s education.
She explained that she owes money for her children’s education, but cannot settle the debts because payment for the cocoa supplied has been delayed.
“The price that was set before helped us survive. Now they are reducing what we used to receive. We are pleading with the President to allow farmers to also take care of their children,” she said.
Wofa Twum, the chief cocoa farmer in Pankese, warned that the situation could push many farmers to abandon cocoa farming for illegal mining activities.
According to him, some farmers are being tempted to give up their cocoa farms for mining operations because of the economic pressure.
He added that cocoa farming has traditionally been a reliable source of livelihood for rural communities and should be protected.
Addressing the farmers, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, Member of Parliament for Offinso South and Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, accused the government of misleading farmers with promises of better cocoa prices while in opposition.
He explained that cocoa farmers are normally guaranteed between 40 and 70 percent of the Free On Board (FOB) price under Ghana’s cocoa pricing structure.
According to him, under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the cocoa producer price increased significantly.
“Akufo-Addo’s government raised the cocoa price from less than GH¢500 per bag to GH¢3,100 before leaving office,” he said.
Dr. Opoku stated that the current government had previously claimed the GH¢3,100 price meant cocoa farmers were being cheated, while promising to increase farmers’ share of the FOB price.
He argued that farmers supported the government based on those assurances, but have now been disappointed. “Farmers voted for them expecting higher prices, but when they came, they gave only a small increment of about GH¢3,265. The Minority believes that the increment was meant to deceive farmers,” he said.
Dr. Opoku also rejected suggestions of deregulating Ghana’s cocoa sector, arguing that the system that has guided cocoa production since Tetteh Quarshie brought cocoa to Ghana has worked.
“If something is not broken, you don’t fix it. What the government came to meet should be maintained for the benefit of cocoa farmers,” he added.
Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who led the campaign, described the price reduction as a rip-off, insisting that producers are being short-changed. He argued that rather than cutting prices, the government should consider introducing a bailout or subsidy package to cushion farmers and sustain productivity in the sector.
He disclosed that the Eastern Region tour marks the beginning of a wider engagement with cocoa farmers across major producing regions.
According to him, the exercise is aimed at gathering first-hand information from farmers and strengthening advocacy for policies that promote fair pricing, improve incentives for production, and secure the future of the cocoa industry.
The visit also took the MPs to Ofoase and Kade.