President John Dramani Mahama has expressed solidarity with Ghanaian cocoa farmers in the wake of the recent reduction in the cocoa producer price per bag.
The government, citing instability in the international market, recently announced a decrease in the producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag. Speaking at the inaugural Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, President Mahama highlighted the need for pragmatic, farmer-centered reforms in the cocoa sector.
“I planted cocoa on 50 acres, so I am a cocoa farmer. When the price is reduced by the government, it affects me too. I want to empathise with farmers so that when we take policy decisions, we understand the impact and feel it ourselves. If the price of fertiliser is high, I feel it because I also buy fertiliser,” he stated.
The President stressed that policy decisions in the cocoa sector must reflect the daily realities faced by farmers. He acknowledged that fluctuations in global cocoa prices and the recent industry adjustments require careful and balanced decision-making.
President Mahama further called for policies that not only protect the interests of farmers but also promote the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
By sharing his personal experience as a cocoa farmer, he sought to underline the importance of empathy in shaping agricultural policies that directly affect the livelihoods of producers across the country.
