Edward Kwame Yeboah is the 2025 National Best Cocoa Farmer
Correspondence from Ashanti Region
A group of cocoa farmers in the Ahafo Ano South West district of the Ashanti region, have called on the government and parliament of Ghana to immediately enact a law and pass a bill implementing the 70% price adjustment for cocoa, based on the World Market determinant.
Speaking at a press conference in Mankranso, the farmers who welcomed the new price reduction due to the global market effect, also expressed worry about the undue politicization of the cocoa prices and its related issues.
Edward Kwame Yeboah, 2025 National Best Cocoa Farmer and convener of the group, warned that politicizing cocoa prices and its related issues could badly affect the sector.
He therefore entreated stakeholders in the industry to stop doing politics with Cocoa issues, a situation he believes causes more harm than good.
He observed that the cocoa industry which is the backbone of the country’s economy, needs to be accorded with decorum when it comes to its issues.
“If our sector is dribbled for political gains, it will have an adverse effect on the economy and that is not going to help the country,” he disclosed.
The group further revealed that they have been made to understand that the current reduction in cocoa prices was not intentional, but rather as a result of a reduction in the world market.
Though they expressed worry about the current reduction, they have no option than to accept it in good faith due to what they have learned from the world signal.
“Though we are all not happy about the reduction, we however accept it due to the world market price. We can see that neighboring countries like Ivory Coast are facing similar challenges. In this same manner, we want the government to make sure that the 70% adjustment for cocoa farmers anytime the world market price goes up, should reflect. This is why we are urging the government to immediately compel parliament to enact a law that could permanently and automatically ensure that the 70% increment is at work,” Yeboah said.
They also expressed disappointment in the person(s) who represents them on the government committee that decides pricing of cocoa.
According to them, despite having a rep on the committee, they barely get any information from his end.
They particularly expressed worry about the reps failure to engage with farmers during or after pricing decisions.
“It’s very worrying that we don’t feel the real presence of our rep on the committee, despite having someone there. They need to come down and educate farmers on sensitive issues like this. If you’re representing the farmers, let us feel your real presence,” they lamented.
Regarding the continuous politicization of the sector, Yeboah urged stakeholders to desist from engaging in politics that could destroy the cocoa sector.
They also want the government to ensure that a bill is passed in parliament on the 70% automatic adjustment and prices are subsidized on fertilizers and chemicals for cocoa farmers.
They also made a passionate appeal to the government to prioritize farmers’ welfare and ensure that individuals who commercialize fertilizers and chemicals for farmers are severely dealt with.
Meanwhile, their current call coincides with and pressurize the government’s announced plan to lay before Parliament a new cocoa bill guaranteeing farmers a minimum of 70 percent of the Free On Board (FOB) price of their produce.
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com