If the government does not act to raise the price of cocoa even more, cocoa producers have threatened to smuggle their produce to neighbouring nations.
Prior to the government’s announcement of a 21% increase in the producer price to GH800 for the 2022/2023 cocoa crop season, a bag of cocoa in Ghana was selling for GH¢660.
It is anticipated that the new pricing structure will go into effect on Friday, October 7, 2022.
Some cocoa farmers, however, are bemoaning the fact that the new increment is utterly insufficient when compared to that of the Ivory Coast, which is estimated to be around GH¢858 for the same season.
According to Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, President of the Concerned Farmers Association, they are dissatisfied with the current prices and demand another price adjustment.
According to Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, President of the Concerned Farmers Association, they are dissatisfied with the current prices and demand another price adjustment.
“The government has put in some effort, but this is not enough for us. We were expecting about GH¢1,500 so that we could at least have about GH¢250 for welfare and GH¢1250 in the pocket of the farmer.”
“How can the cocoa farmers decide on a price and then government sit elsewhere and quotes its price without consulting us? There was no dialogue whatsoever. Our farmers are threatening to smuggle their produce to neighbouring countries if there is no further increment in the price.”
Adam Ibrahim
Adam is passionate about politics and issues that affect governance. As a writer, he channels his energies into writing on pertinent national and political issues for the good of the Ghanaian people.