President John Dramani Mahama has empathised with Ghanaian cocoa farmers following the price reduction of cocoa producer price per bag.
Government as part of its recent reforms in the cocoa sector announced the reduction of the producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag due to instability on the international market.
Addressing participants at the inaugural Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, the President called for pragmatic, farmer-centered reforms and demanded that policy decisions in Ghana’s cocoa sector must take into account the reality faced by producers on a daily basis.
President Mahama disclosed that he has cultivated cocoa on 50 acres, noting that changes in producer prices and input costs directly affect him just as other farmers are affected.
“I planted cocoa on 50 acres, so I am a cocoa farmer. When the price is reduced by the government, it affects me too. I want to empathise with farmers so that when we take policy decisions, we understand the impact and feel it ourselves. If the price of fertiliser is high, I feel it because I also buy fertiliser,” he stated.
He acknowledged that fluctuations in global cocoa prices and recent adjustments within the industry require a delicate balancing decision, urging stakeholders to appreciate the complexities involved in managing the sector.
President Mahama emphasised the need for policies that safeguard farmers’ interests while ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
