Afadjato South MP Praises Cocoa Price Increase Amidst Opposition Criticism
Member of Parliament for Afadjato South, Frank Afriyie, has hailed the recent increase in Ghana’s cocoa producer price, describing it as a significant gain for farmers and a clear fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s commitment to ensure better returns for agricultural workers.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, August 5, Mr. Afriyie expressed strong support for the John Mahama-led government, stating that the current arrangement offers a better deal to cocoa farmers compared to what was implemented by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
“The value of that GH₵100, for me, surpasses what the NPP government gave,” he noted. “We must not analyse as though we are telling the cocoa farmer they are foolish.”
The comments follow the announcement of a 62.58% increase in the cocoa producer price for the 2025/2026 season. The new rate has risen from US$3,100 to US$5,040 per tonne, a decision reached by the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) chaired by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. The upcoming cocoa season is scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 7.
Dr. Forson explained that the increase is pegged at 70% of the gross Free-On-Board (FOB) value of cocoa, which currently stands at US$7,200 per tonne. This is in line with President Mahama’s pledge to ensure cocoa farmers receive at least 70% of the FOB value, which is the price cocoa fetches at the port before shipping and other fees.
NPP Criticises New Pricing
Despite the praise from the NDC, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy Committee and MP for Ofoase/Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has accused the government of “scamming” cocoa farmers with the newly announced pricing.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah claims the figures are being inflated to create a perception of progress and fairness while not necessarily reflecting real-time gains for farmers in the current economic context.
Under the previous NPP government, the FOB was pegged at US$4,850, with farmers receiving US$3,100, equivalent to 63.9% of the FOB. Critics argued that the NPP set lower rates despite favourable global cocoa market conditions.
The contrasting views set the stage for a broader debate on how best to support Ghana’s cocoa industry, which remains the backbone of the country’s rural economy.
Please download our HOTDIGITAL ONLINE APP and follow HotDigital Online on our social media platforms to stay updated on our upcoming initiatives.
#HotDigitalHealthAwareness #CommunityHealth #GhanaNursesAssociationUK #HealthMatters #HotDigitalOnline #StrongerTogether
