Stop The Excuses And Increase The Producer Price Of Cocoa Now – Minority Caucus To Gov’t

The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party in Parliament has called on the ruling NDC government to as matters of urgency increase the producer price of cocoa.

On the 8th of April 2025, Ghana COCOBOD issued a letter signed by Dr. James Kofi Kutsoati, (Ag. Deputy Chief Executive, OPS) and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Licensed Cocoa Buyers’ Association of Ghana (LICOBAG) titled “Cocoa Price Adjustment for the 2025/2026 Cocoa season” and cited two reasons why they cannot adjust the producer price.

Just a day after, another release issued by the Public Affairs Department of the same COCOBOD titled “The public should disregard any statement suggesting a producer price announcement” rather gave two different reasons as to why the producer price of cocoa cannot be increased.

In a presser in Kumasi today, the Parliamentary Ranking Member on Agric, who is also the MP for Offinso South, Hon. Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, expressed shock and high disappointment by the two releases, which both point all to one fact, that is COCOBOD, and for that matter the NDC Government will not increase the producer price of cocoa for the 2025/2026 season.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, the recent price hike in Cote D’Ivoire has created a significant disparity that threatens to exacerbate cocoa smuggling across the border.

The Ivorian government’s decision to increase cocoa prices from 1800 CFA to 2,200 CFA per Kilo, representing a substantial 22.24% rise, has widened the price gap between the two West African Cocoa giants.”

The Minority Caucus have therefore, called in the government to take immediate and decisive action to address this pressing issue.

They said that the time for lamentations and blame game has passed. What we need now is a substantial increase in cocoa prices to match or exceed those offered in Cote D’Ivoire.

This is not merely an economic decision but a matter of national security and the preservation of our agricultural heritage.

“The government must act now to safeguard our cocoa industry, protect our farmers’ livelihoods, and maintain Ghana’s position in the industry.”

“Failure to do so will result in irreparable damage to our economy and a betrayal of the hardworking farmers who form the backbone of our nation’s agricultural sector.”

Story by Bismark Mensah@A/R