Former President John Mahama has expressed disappointment over President Akufo-Addo's recent announcement of a GH¢1,308 producer price per bag of cocoa.
Mr Mahama who is also the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) described it as a rip-off of hardworking cocoa farmers.
Speaking at an event in Tepa on September 9, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the challenges faced by cocoa farmers due to low international cocoa prices, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite these difficulties, he mentioned that COCOBOD and the government have decided to raise the producer price of cocoa.
The President explained that cocoa prices had increased from GH¢7,600 per tonne in 2016 to GH¢12,800 per tonne in 2022, a substantial 68% increase.
He stated that the government had further raised cocoa prices from GH¢12,800 per tonne to GH¢20,943 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢1,308 per bag. This new price represents 70.5% of the Gross FoB price and is equal to $1,821 per tonne.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted that this is the highest price paid to cocoa farmers in West Africa in approximately 50 years.
However, in a Facebook post on Monday, September 11, John Mahama argued that given the international market price of cocoa reaching a 46-year record high of $3,600, the government should have provided cocoa farmers with a more equitable share of the international FOB price.
He expressed disappointment that the government has chosen to offer farmers a mere GH¢1,308 per bag, which constitutes only 52.7% of the FOB Price on the international market.
"Sadly, government has chosen to give them a paltry GH₵1,308 per bag, which constitutes only 52.7% of the FOB Price of the product on the international market."
Mahama insisted that this is unfair to cocoa farmers who have faced increasing challenges since the NPP assumed office in 2017.
Mahama pointed out that during his tenure in 2016, his government, in addition to the free fertilizer and free cocoa seedlings program, allocated cocoa farmers 66.06% of the FOB Price of cocoa.
He argued that the NPP administration should have built upon this foundation but instead "have rather increased the operational expenses of COCOBOD and reduced the international FOB share for the farmers."
Mr Mahama concluded that cocoa farmers deserve better treatment.
Latest Stories
-
Beating Messi’s Inter Miami to MLS Cup is feels amazing – Joseph Paintsil
12 minutes -
NDC administration will reverse all ‘last-minute’ gov’t employee promotions – Asiedu Nketiah
23 minutes -
Kudus sights ‘authority and kingship’ for elephant stool celebration
24 minutes -
We’ll embrace cutting-edge technologies to address emerging healthcare needs – Prof. Antwi-Kusi
57 minutes -
Nana Aba Anamoah, Cwesi Oteng to attend Philip Nai and Friends’ charity event
1 hour -
Environmental protection officers receive training on how to tackle climate change
1 hour -
CLOGSAG vows to resist partisan appointments in Civil, Local Government Service
2 hours -
Peasant Farmers Association welcomes Mahama’s move to rename Agric Ministry
2 hours -
NDC grateful to chiefs, people of Bono Region -Asiedu Nketia
2 hours -
Ban on smoking in public: FDA engages food service establishments on compliance
2 hours -
Mahama’s administration to consider opening Ghana’s Mission in Budapest
2 hours -
GEPA commits to building robust systems that empower MSMEs
2 hours -
Twifo Atti-Morkwa poultry farmers in distress due to high cost of feed
2 hours -
Central Region PURC assures residents of constant water, power supply during yuletide
2 hours -
Election victory not licence to misbehave – Police to youth
2 hours