Dr Mohammed Amin Adam is a Member of Parliament for Karaga
The Member of Parliament for Karaga, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has taken a swipe at the government over its new cocoa sector reforms, accusing Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, of neglecting the welfare of cocoa farmers.
Reacting to the announcement at a press conference on February 13, 2026, Dr Amin Adam said he had expected a comprehensive restructuring roadmap but was instead left disappointed by what he described as measures that undermine producers.
“We were told that the Minister of Finance was coming to announce what they call a restructuring of the cocoa sector. We are very surprised that the minister rather used the opportunity to shortchange cocoa farmers,” he said.
The MP argued that a detailed turnaround strategy for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) had already been developed prior to the change in administration, in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to him, the strategy was designed to comprehensively reform COCOBOD, strengthen its finances, and improve efficiency across the cocoa value chain.
Sack COCOBOD CEO Randy Abbey – Minority barks
He maintained that the current challenges confronting the cocoa sector are the result of the government’s failure to implement that framework.
“What is happening today in the cocoa sector is not surprising because this government has failed to implement the COCOBOD turnaround strategy,” he asserted.
Dr Amin Adam further pointed out that some of the measures recently announced by the Minister of Finance, such as transferring the cost of cocoa roads to the Ministry of Roads were already captured in the previous blueprint.
“This measure was in the turnaround strategy that we handed over to them. It took them one year, and they have not implemented it,” he said.
He also indicated that the earlier plan proposed a legislated transparent pricing framework and the removal of certain cost components that reduce farmers’ share of revenue.
These, he argued, have yet to be acted upon.
He criticised what he described as COCOBOD’s continued involvement in non-core activities, insisting that the turnaround strategy sought to refocus the institution on its primary mandate while improving procurement efficiency.
Dr Mohammed Amin Adam maintained that a fresh restructuring announcement would have been unnecessary had the previous plan been executed effectively.
“As far as we are concerned, this NDC government did not need to announce any new strategy for restructuring COCOBOD. If they had implemented the strategy we handed over, COCOBOD would not be in this mess,” he stated.
MRA/AE
Cabinet instructs COCOBOD to begin repayment to all affected cocoa farmers
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com