Ranking Member on Parliament’s Food and Agriculture Committee and MP for Offinso South, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, has slammed the government’s newly announced cocoa producer price, describing it as a “top-bottom” decision based on manipulated figures rather than meaningful stakeholder engagement.
His remarks come after the government announced a 62.58% increase in the cocoa producer price for the 2025/2026 season—from US$3,100 to US$5,040 per tonne. In cedi terms, the price moves from GH₵49,600 to GH₵51,660 per tonne, or GH₵3,228.75 per 64kg bag.
The new price, approved by the Producer Price Review Committee chaired by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is set to take effect from Thursday, August 7.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, August 4, Dr. Opoku alleged that the figures were pre-determined and that the process lacked transparency and genuine consultation with cocoa farmers.
“What the government is doing is a top-bottom approach. What do we want to pay? What price do we want to give to farmers? So they established that figure before they worked around it to achieve what they gave out to farmers today,” he said.
He also rejected the key assumptions underpinning the pricing.
“In other words, what I am saying is that I do not even agree to the FOB price they are quoting. I do not agree with the cedi exchange rate they are quoting. I do not agree to any condition they have established. I do not agree to any of them,” he added.
Dr. Opoku further accused the government of failing to fulfil its campaign promises to cocoa farmers.
“In any way, what was the basis for promising cocoa farmers that when they win power, they will pay cocoa farmers GH₵6,000 per bag? In fact, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson even went further—at one point, he even promised GH₵7,000. So what was the basis?
“The cocoa farmers don’t know any calculation, they do not believe in these gimmicks, they don’t. All they are asking the government to do is to fulfil its promise of GH₵6,000 per bag,” he stated.
