The Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has pledged a sustained parliamentary push to secure what he describes as the rightful earnings of cocoa farmers.
Speaking during an engagement with farmers at Akyekrom in the Eastern Region, as part of a Minority Caucus tour of cocoa-growing communities, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee said the fight would continue “even if it takes years.”
The outreach follows the recent reduction in cocoa producer prices by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), a decision government attributes to declining global prices and financial strain in the sector.
However, opposition lawmakers from the New Patriotic Party argue the adjustment unfairly burdens farmers already facing high input costs and delayed payments.
Farmers at the meeting complained that announced fund releases had not translated into timely payments at the farm gate. Some also raised concerns about unsold rice stocks, which they linked to increased imports affecting local demand.
In response, Mr Oppong Nkrumah assured farmers that the Minority would demand transparency and accountability over cocoa payments and related policies, stressing that the effort is aimed at protecting livelihoods and ensuring fairness in the cocoa value chain.
