The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced plans to develop alternative policy solutions to tackle the growing challenges facing Ghana’s cocoa sector following concerns raised by farmers and industry stakeholders.
The move follows government’s decision to reduce the cocoa producer price to GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag, for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The price adjustment, announced on February 12, has sparked widespread concern among cocoa farmers and actors within the cocoa value chain.
In response, the Minority Caucus established a select committee to tour cocoa-growing communities across the country and engage farmers on the challenges confronting the sector.
The committee, chaired by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, gathered feedback from farmers and compiled recommendations aimed at improving conditions within the industry.
Receiving the committee’s report, Dr. Bawumia said the findings would be referred to the NPP’s Policy Committee on Agriculture, Food Security and Agribusiness for further technical review and stakeholder engagement.
“What I am looking at with the presentation of this report is to take this Select Committee report to the Policy Committee on Agriculture, Food Security and Agribusiness. We are going to ask this committee to technically review the findings, consult experts in the area, and then bring forward costed policy alternatives for us,” he said.
According to Dr. Bawumia, the process is intended to produce practical and sustainable policy options that will help stabilize the cocoa sector, improve farmer incomes, and address concerns raised by producers across the country.
He noted that the committee’s recommendations would form the basis of a comprehensive policy response by the NPP to the challenges confronting the cocoa industry.
Presenting the report, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said cocoa farmers and many Ghanaians were looking to Dr. Bawumia to offer a credible and workable alternative to the current difficulties facing the sector.
“The Ghanaian people are waiting to hear from their saviour. They know you will be able to say something that will be assuring, and not just assuring, also an honest statement for them to know that you will not just come and make a promise that cannot be fulfilled,” he stated.
Government justified the producer price reduction by citing declining global cocoa prices and liquidity challenges within the sector. However, the decision has been met with criticism from farmers, who argue that the cut could significantly affect their livelihoods.
The anticipated policy proposals from Dr. Bawumia and the NPP are expected to contribute to ongoing discussions on reviving Ghana’s cocoa industry, improving farmer welfare, and strengthening one of the country’s most important export sectors.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
