The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns over provisions in the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, which require farmers to obtain approval before destroying or uprooting cocoa trees.

The party argues that the measure could hinder farmers from managing their farms effectively, particularly when removing diseased, old, or unproductive trees.

At a press conference on Sunday, August 9, 2026, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Agriculture Committee and Co‑Chairman of the NPP Policy Committee on Agriculture, questioned why farmers should need prior approval from the Cocoa Board to make routine decisions about their farms.

He warned that the provision could expose farmers to sanctions for normal farm management practices.

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Dr Opoku criticised the speed at which the Bill was passed, noting that it was presented to Parliament on July 28 and approved within the same week, leaving little room for consultation with farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders.

The Bill seeks to repeal the Ghana Cocoa Board Law, 1984 (PNDC Law 81) and introduce a new framework for the cocoa industry, including changes to governance, the establishment of a tribunal, and new offences.

The NPP believes these changes could have far‑reaching consequences for farmers and the wider industry.

Dr Opoku urged President John Dramani Mahama not to sign the Bill in its current form.

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“We urge His Excellency the President to withhold his assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, and return the same to Parliament for broader stakeholder consultation,” he said.

The party insists that wider consultation is necessary to ensure the new law protects farmers’ interests while supporting the long‑term development of Ghana’s cocoa sector.

DR/SA