Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri Member of Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has cautioned the government against allowing Ghana’s cocoa sector to deteriorate.
Such a development, he warned, would undermine the sacrifices made by generations of cocoa farmers.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh made the remarks at the Mampong-Ohum Festival in the Eastern Region, where he joined Akuapem North MP Sammi Awuku and residents to celebrate the annual event.
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His comments followed concerns raised by the Chief of Mampong, Nana Dartey, over the abandoned Millennium Village project in the community, which has historical links to Ghana’s cocoa industry following the introduction of cocoa to the country by Tetteh Quarshie.
According to the Minority Chief Whip, the concerns over the abandoned project should also trigger a broader discussion about the current state of the cocoa sector and the welfare of farmers who have sustained the industry for generations.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh, who recently embarked on a nationwide engagement with cocoa farmers, said complaints gathered during the tour showed growing concerns over producer prices and delayed payments.
He warned that cocoa farming could become increasingly unattractive if farmers fail to receive adequate returns for their produce and are not paid on time.
According to him, cocoa is more than an agricultural commodity, describing the sector as an industry built through the labour and sacrifices of generations of Ghanaian farmers.
He called on the government to take urgent steps to restore confidence in the cocoa sector, improve farmer welfare and ensure cocoa farming remains economically viable.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh said concerns raised during his engagement with farmers have been compiled into a report and submitted to former Vice President and NPP presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
He explained that the report captures concerns raised by cocoa farmers and other stakeholders and is intended to contribute to policy discussions on the future of the sector.
He expressed hope that concerns from cocoa-growing communities would form part of discussions on measures to restore the sector and make cocoa farming attractive to younger generations.
“Let’s not collapse the cocoa sector by allowing the suffering of our ancestors to be in vain,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh warned.
He stressed that the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry must be treated with urgency because of its historical importance and the generations of farmers whose labour has sustained the sector.