Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku flanked by his colleagues
The Minority in Parliament has criticised the recently announced cocoa producer price for the 2025/2026 season, describing it as a betrayal of Ghana’s hardworking cocoa farmers and a complete departure from campaign promises made by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Addressing the media in Parliament yesterday, Ranking Member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, said the GH¢3,228.75 per 64kg bag announced by government represents a meagre 4.2% increase from the previous season’s price of GH¢3,100 – a figure he deemed “ridiculously low” and a “stab in the back” of cocoa farmers.
“This price is laughable, comical, absurd, shameful, unfair, and a complete ‘sakawa’,” Dr. Opoku declared and added, “It is a monumental disappointment that betrays the trust of the very farmers this government promised to uplift.”
NDC’s Campaign Promises
The Minority accused government officials, particularly the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and the Food and Agriculture Minister, Eric Opoku, of reneging on bold campaign promises made in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
At the time, Dr. Opoku said the NDC, then in opposition, assured cocoa farmers of a GH¢6,000 per bag price, while Dr. Ato Forson, in particular, promised GH¢7,000.
“Now that they are in government, where are those promises?” Dr. Opoku queried, urging the two ministers to explain the disparity between their campaign pledges and the current official price.
He also questioned President John Mahama’s earlier commitment to pay farmers 70% of the Free on Board (FOB) price, citing global cocoa market figures to argue that farmers are being shortchanged.
“At today’s world market price of $8,211.23 per tonne, 70% translates to about GH¢3,718 per bag; not the paltry GH¢3,228.75 we’re being told to accept,” he said.
Ivorian Comparison
The Minority further noted that Ghanaian farmers are now earning less per bag than their Ivorian counterparts, who receive the equivalent of GH¢3,635. This, they warned, will create strong incentives for smuggling cocoa beans across the country’s borders, especially from regions like Western North, Ahafo, and Volta.
“How can Ghanaian cocoa farmers be happy when their counterparts across the border are earning over GH¢400 more per bag?” the Minority asked and argued, “This undermines both our cocoa industry and national security.”
COCOBOD Accountability
Dr. Opoku also demanded clarity on COCOBOD’s finances, questioning whether the industry truly lacks funds, as claimed by the government.
“If COCOBOD is broke, how much revenue did it raise in the last season? Was it not over $3 billion?” he asked, also challenging the rationale behind what he described as “wanton transfers” of personnel since the NDC took office in January 2025.
He further dismissed the government claims of providing free inputs, such as insecticides, fertilisers, and jute sacks, saying the costs are borne by farmers as part of the FOB pricing.
“Honour Your Promises”
The Minority called on the government to revise the cocoa price upward immediately, warning of potential fallout, including a rise in illegal mining if cocoa farming becomes unprofitable.
“Hon. Eric Opoku must go back to Dadiesoaba and apologise to the farmers for his failed promise. Hon. Ato Forson now controls the public purse; he must find the money to pay what he promised,” Dr. Opoku charged.
“The deception must stop. Cocoa farmers matter. This is not the price they were promised, and they deserve better,” he asserted.
The Minority called on the government to safeguard the cocoa sector and restore confidence among farmers to preserve Ghana’s position as a global cocoa powerhouse.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliamentary Correspondent