President John Dramani Mahama says he understands firsthand the impact of cocoa price reductions on farmers because he is one himself.
Speaking at the inaugural Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, the President called for pragmatic, farmer-centred reforms in Ghana’s cocoa industry. He stressed that policy decisions must reflect the lived realities of producers whose livelihoods depend on the sector.
Mahama revealed that his connection to cocoa farming goes beyond policy oversight. He disclosed that he has planted cocoa on 50 acres, making him directly affected by developments in the industry.
“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 said.
His comments come at a time of renewed debate over recent adjustments in the cocoa economy, particularly the reduction in the producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag. The price review was attributed to instability on the international cocoa market.
The decision has generated concern among farmers across the country, many of whom argue that falling earnings coupled with rising input costs are placing severe strain on cocoa production and threatening their livelihoods
