The Director General of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) UK, Kwaku Bimpeh, has strongly criticised the government over the reported reduction in the cocoa producer price, describing the move as a betrayal of Ghanaian farmers.
According to Mr. Bimpeh, the decision to reduce the cocoa producer price from GHS 3,600 to GHS 2,587 per bag contradicts campaign promises made to cocoa farmers during the 2024 general elections.
“The Government of Ghana has officially reduced the cocoa producer price from GHS 3,600 to GHS 2,587 per bag. Let us call this what it is — a betrayal,” Mr. Bimpeh stated.
He argued that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaigned on a promise to increase cocoa prices to GHS 6,000 per bag, a pledge he said was repeatedly communicated to farmers across cocoa-growing regions.
“That promise was not whispered. It was broadcast and repeated widely. Today, instead of GHS 6,000, cocoa farmers are confronted with GHS 2,587. That is not an adjustment; that is a collapse of credibility,” he added.
Mr. Bimpeh stressed that cocoa remains a critical pillar of Ghana’s economy, noting that the sector contributes between 20 and 25 percent of the country’s export earnings and generates between US$2 billion and US$3 billion annually in foreign exchange.
“More than 800,000 cocoa farming households depend directly on cocoa production, with over two million Ghanaians relying on the sector for their livelihoods. When cocoa suffers, Ghana suffers,” he said.
The NPP UK Communications Director further warned that the reduction in producer prices could worsen the financial burden on farmers, who are already grappling with rising costs of fertilisers, labour, transportation, and farm maintenance.
“Even at GHS 3,600 per bag, farmers were under pressure. This new price effectively punishes farmers for believing campaign promises and weakens their ability to sustain production,” he stated.
Mr. Bimpeh also raised concerns about the potential link between declining cocoa incomes and the growing threat of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. He claimed that financial hardships may push farmers to lease or sell cocoa farmlands to illegal mining operators.
“When cocoa becomes unprofitable, desperation takes over. If farmers are pushed toward galamsey because cocoa no longer pays, that is not a farmer failure; it is a policy failure,” he said.
He called on the government to be transparent about the challenges facing the cocoa sector if sustaining higher producer prices is not feasible.
“If there is a crisis due to global market conditions or fiscal constraints, the government must say so openly. Leadership requires honesty. Do not campaign on GHS 6,000 if you cannot deliver it,” Mr. Bimpeh urged.
He further cautioned that policy inconsistencies could damage Ghana’s reputation as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer and undermine investor confidence in the sector.
“Ghana’s global standing has been built on decades of sacrifice by hardworking farmers. You cannot build a strong export economy on broken promises,” he noted.
Mr. Bimpeh reiterated the need for policies that ensure fair pricing, consistency, and economic protection for cocoa farmers, stressing that farmers remain the backbone of Ghana’s rural economy.
“They were promised prosperity. They have received austerity. Cocoa farmers deserve respect and honest leadership,” he concluded.
