Some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s plan to disrupt the Minority Caucus’s Farmers Engagement Tour to Bonkrom in the Ahafo Ano North district.
The move reflects growing frustration following the government’s decision to reduce the cocoa producer price, a development that has triggered protests across cocoa-growing communities.
The incident occurred at Bonkrom–Tepa, where the Minority, led by Frank Annoh-Dompreh, had scheduled an interaction with farmers as part of a nationwide tour to assess the impact of the price cut.
On the same day, local NDC officials reportedly planned a separate meeting with the farmers, creating a direct clash and heightening tensions in the area.
Farmers say they deliberately boycotted the NDC meeting, accusing the party and government of failing to consult them before announcing the price reduction.
“They have no regard for us. How can you drastically reduce the price, then meet us? What exactly are you coming to tell us?” one farmer said during the Minority’s engagement.
Several others echoed the sentiment, accusing authorities of sidelining farmers in decisions that directly affect their livelihoods.
Tensions escalated further when the NDC reportedly mounted tents opposite the venue of the Minority’s meeting, drawing large crowds and raising fears of confrontation.
Security personnel were deployed to maintain order as hundreds of farmers gathered for the engagement.
The farmers said their decision to meet the Minority was driven by the need to have their concerns raised in Parliament, particularly over the reduction in the producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag.
They described the cut as harsh and unjustified, especially given that the costs of inputs, labour and transportation continue to rise.
The boycott highlights a deepening trust deficit between cocoa farmers and the government, with many insisting they were neither consulted nor adequately informed before the decision.
The situation has also cast a spotlight on the role of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), with farmers questioning the management of the sector.
The Minority Caucus has positioned itself as an advocate for farmers, using its tour to gather first-hand accounts of industry challenges.
Members of the caucus have criticised the price reduction, arguing that it shifts the burden of economic difficulties onto farmers.
The developments in Ahafo Ano North form part of a broader wave of discontent across cocoa-growing regions, where farmers are grappling with delayed payments, declining incomes and uncertainty about the future of the sector.
The unrest is also taking on political significance, as opposition figures seek to capitalise on the growing dissatisfaction to challenge government policy.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com