The National President of the Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana (CFA-Ghana), Nana Oboadie Bonsu II, says the association will, by next week, announce its official position on the new cocoa prices recently declared by the Finance Minister.
Speaking on the Midday News on Joy FM, Nana Oboadie Bonsu II said the association is currently consulting farmers across the country before taking a final decision on whether to accept the new producer price.
On the newly announced cocoa price, Nana Oboadie Bonsu II said the association would not rush to take a position without consulting its members.
“As an organisation, we can’t just wake up and say that maybe the price that came, we will make a statement on it that we like it or we don’t like it,” he said.
He noted that while there had been public debate and even demonstrations over the price, the association believes it must first assess whether the figure is fair.
“We have to sit down with our farmers to do the calculations and see whether the price that came is a fair price or not,” he stated.
At the time of the interview, he said he was in the Central Region engaging cocoa farmers directly.
“I’m currently in the Central Region. We’ve met some of the cocoa farmers for them to discuss how the price came, whether we accept it or not,” he said.
He disclosed that farmers in some areas had already expressed their views.
“The farmers in the Central Region, Asafo and Swedru, have now concluded that the price that came, they accepted it,” he revealed.
However, he added that farmers expect government to adjust prices upward if international cocoa prices rise.
“What government has to know is that when the price also goes up, they also have to increase the price as it is, as the 70 per cent of the international price,” he said.
When asked about reports that some farmers were threatening a hunger strike over the new price, Nana Oboadie Bonsu II said he was aware of the concerns.
“Well, I’m aware of that. That is why we are also on the field getting the views of the people, whether those that are saying it are farmers or not farmers,” he said.
“Others are saying they are okay with it. Others are saying that they are not okay with it. So those that are saying they are not okay with it, we’re also getting close to them to see the way forward of how we can solve this situation,” he added.
On when the association would announce a final position, he a clear timeline.
“By Tuesday or Wednesday, we’ll come to a conclusion and then all cocoa farmers across the country will release a press statement or hold a press conference for our position on the new price that has been released,” Nana Oboadie Bonsu II said.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson during a press briefing on Thursday, February 12,announced a revised cocoa producer price aimed at cushioning farmers against the recent decline in global cocoa prices.
He disclosed that the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC), under his chairmanship, convened earlier in the day to assess the challenges facing the sector and to review the producer price for the remainder of the 2025–2026 crop season.
In order to mitigate the impact of falling international prices, the PPRC recommended that farmers receive 90% of the achieved gross Free on Board (FOB) price of USD 4,200 per tonne.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
