The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticised the government’s decision to reduce the producer price of cocoa from ¢3,625 to ¢2,587 per 64-kilogram bag, describing the move as unfair and unprecedented.

Isaac Yaw Opoku, Member of Parliament for Offinso South and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, denounced the price cut, saying it amounts to “treating cocoa farmers like trash.”

Speaking on behalf of the Minority, he reminded the government of earlier promises, particularly by the finance minister, to increase the cocoa price to ¢6,000 per bag.

According to him, cocoa farmers have made immense sacrifices to sustain the country’s economy and should not be penalised in this manner.

He questioned why the burden of economic challenges is being placed on farmers while salaries and allowances of government officials remain untouched.

He further asked whether the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr Randy Abbey, would also take a pay cut in solidarity.

Opoku called on President John Mahama to reconsider the decision, stressing that cocoa farmers deserve fairness and better treatment.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Amin Adam, MP for Karaga and former finance minister, has accused the government of mismanaging the cocoa sector, resulting in what he describes as a deepening crisis.

He argued that the government failed to implement a restructuring strategy developed by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which he believes could have prevented the current challenges.

Amin Adam also expressed surprise that the IMF has not stepped in, claiming that Ghana’s cocoa has become more expensive on the international market, leading to declining demand.

He attributed this to what he described as the overvaluation of the cedi, warning that it undermines the country’s export competitiveness.

Instead of reducing the price paid to farmers, he called for a financial bailout for COCOBOD to stabilise the sector.

He dismissed claims that the economy is improving, arguing that a well-managed economy would not require slashing cocoa producer prices.

Both MPs urged the government to reverse the decision and implement measures that protect the livelihoods of cocoa farmers across the country.