Members of the Catholic Bishops wants cocoa sector issues to be resolved
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued an urgent call to rescue Ghana’s cocoa sector, citing worsening conditions for farmers and rural communities and framing the crisis as a moral imperative.
In a pastoral letter shared with President John Dramani Mahama, the leadership of Parliament, and the general public on Friday, February 20, 2026, the Bishops expressed grave concern over delays in payment for cocoa deliveries, reductions in producer prices, and the growing economic vulnerability of farmers.
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“For months, many farmers have endured delays in payment for cocoa already delivered, resulting in unpaid labour, disrupted schooling, mounting debt, and increasing vulnerability to illegal mining. The recent reduction in the producer price has further eroded confidence and intensified hardship,” the Conference said in the statement.
The Bishops, led by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, argued that while international cocoa prices fluctuate, farmers should not bear the full burden of systemic failures.
“During years of windfall gains, producer prices were not raised proportionately. Equity and justice, therefore, demand that accumulated surpluses be used to cushion farmers in difficult years. To penalise them for circumstances beyond their control would be insensitive and morally indefensible,” the statement added.
The Conference also warned of Ghana’s declining position in the global cocoa economy, noting that Ecuador is on course to surpass Ghana as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, while Nigeria and Cameroon threaten to emerge as a combined third force.
“These shifts, alongside climate stress and land degradation caused by illegal mining, place Ghana at a strategic crossroads,” the statement said.
The Bishops called for immediate measures, including the payment of arrears, transparent financial restructuring of the Ghana Cocoa Board, sustained producer prices, intensified investment in productivity, and a depoliticised national dialogue centred on farmers’ welfare.
They also emphasised the importance of youth participation, research, and local cocoa processing to secure the sector’s future.
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“The rescue of Ghana’s cocoa industry is not merely an economic task; it is a moral imperative. Justice for cocoa farmers is justice for Ghana,” the Bishops stated.
MAG/MA
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
