President John Dramani Mahama has appealed for practical, farmer-focused reforms in Ghana’s cocoa sector, saying decisions taken at the policy level must reflect the real struggles faced by producers on the ground—including his own.
Speaking at the inaugural Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition held in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, President Mahama said his views on cocoa pricing and reforms are informed not only by governance experience but by personal involvement in cocoa farming.
“I planted cocoa on 50 acres, so I am a cocoa farmer,” he told participants. “When government reduces the price, it affects me too. If fertiliser prices go up, I feel it because I also buy fertiliser. That is why we must empathise with farmers and understand the real impact of the policies we take.”
His comments come amid ongoing debate over recent changes in Ghana’s cocoa pricing structure, following volatility on the international market. The producer price per bag was reduced from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587, a move that has triggered concern and frustration among farmers across cocoa-growing communities.
Many producers argue that the price cut, combined with rising input costs such as fertiliser and agro-chemicals, is squeezing incomes and threatening the sustainability of cocoa farming as a livelihood.
President Mahama acknowledged the challenges, noting that managing the cocoa economy requires a difficult balance between global market realities and protecting farmers’ welfare. He urged industry players and policymakers to pursue reforms that are both economically sound and sensitive to the everyday experiences of farmers.
According to him, the future of Ghana’s cocoa sector depends on policies that farmers can trust—policies shaped by fairness, transparency and a clear understanding of the pressures facing those who produce one of the country’s most important exports.
Source: Africa Publicity
