Government Has Gambled with Ghanaian Cocoa Farmers — Yaw Frimpong Addo
By: Adwoa Nyarko Asiamah
Yaw Frimpong Addo, Member of Parliament for Manso Adubia and a member of Parliament’s Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, has criticised government’s handling of the cocoa sector, describing the current payment challenges facing farmers as the result of poor decision-making.
Speaking on Pure FM, the MP indicated that the situation was avoidable and unprecedented, stressing that cocoa management in Ghana is guided by clear legal and institutional frameworks. He noted that cocoa is the property of the Government of Ghana and that its sale is regulated by law.
According to him, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) remains the apex body responsible for overseeing the cocoa sector, with several agencies under its supervision, including the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), which is mandated to handle the sale of cocoa both locally and internationally.
Mr. Frimpong Addo questioned the continued reliance on syndicated loans to finance cocoa sales, arguing that such dependence undermines the country’s economic independence. He further explained that approximately 70 per cent of Ghana’s cocoa production is recorded between October and December, a period he believes COCOBOD should have strategically used to secure cocoa sales.
He attributed the current challenges to delays in selling cocoa through the forward sales system, noting that authorities opted to wait in anticipation of higher prices. This decision, he said, amounted to a gamble that has negatively affected cocoa farmers.
The MP also recalled that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had previously criticised the forward sales system while in opposition, despite its long-standing use and benefits to the cocoa sector. He maintained that the system provides stability and certainty, and abandoning it contributed to the difficulties currently confronting farmers.
