Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Fred Kyei Asamoah, has criticised the government’s decision to reduce the producer price of cocoa, describing it as a blow to farmers who backed the administration in the hope of better returns.

Speaking during a visit by the Minority Caucus to cocoa-growing communities in the Ashanti Region on March 16, 2026, Kyei Asamoah said the decision has left many farmers disappointed at a time when they expected relief.

He argued that instead of slashing prices, the government could have created a special support fund to cushion farmers amid the current difficulties.

Drawing from his personal background as the son of a cocoa farmer and a beneficiary of the cocoa scholarship scheme, he said the move feels particularly unfair. He noted that with an estimated GH₵40 billion earned from cocoa sales, part of the revenue could have gone into settling the GH₵11 billion owed to farmers.

“If the government could not increase the price to what was promised, it should at least have maintained it at GH₵3,100, which was the price it inherited,” he said.

Meanwhile, the MP for Effiduase/Asokore, Nana Ayew Afriyie, also voiced strong opposition to the price reduction and assured farmers of the Minority’s backing.

He outlined a three-step plan to pressure the government: first, ensuring that all outstanding payments owed to farmers are cleared; second, pushing for a return to the GH₵3,100 per bag producer price set by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration; and finally, holding President John Dramani Mahama accountable for his campaign promise of increasing the price to GH₵6,000 per bag.

Afriyie also encouraged the President to consider borrowing options similar to those used for acquiring presidential aircraft to raise funds in support of cocoa farmers.

“We want him to do that now and will not wait for the next election,” he stated.

NA/VPO

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