The Ofoase-Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has vowed a sustained parliamentary fight to secure the rightful earnings of cocoa farmers, insisting the Minority will not relent “even if it takes years” to restore what is due them.
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee’s remarks came during an engagement with farmers at Akyekrom, a cocoa-growing community in his constituency, as part of a broader Minority Caucus tour of farming areas in the Eastern Region.
The outreach follows the recent reduction in cocoa producer prices, a move that has sparked discontent among farmers across producing regions.
While President John Dramani Mahama and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) attribute the price adjustment to declining global cocoa prices and financial pressures within the sector, opposition New Patriotic Party lawmakers argue the decision unfairly shifts the burden onto farmers already grappling with rising input costs and household expenses.
Addressing the gathering at Akyekrom, Oppong Nkrumah said he had previously met with farmers privately, during which they expressed frustration over the current pricing regime and delayed payments.
The latest visit was aimed at formally listening to grievances, assessing the situation firsthand, and assuring farmers that their concerns would be pursued vigorously in Parliament.
Farmers reportedly complained that government announcements about fund releases had not translated into actual payments at the farm gate, with some still waiting for monies they were told had been disbursed.
Others lamented broader economic challenges, including unsold rice stocks, which they blamed on increased imports of rice, which they said affected local demand.
In response, Oppong Nkrumah assured farmers that the Minority Caucus would hold the government accountable and push for transparency regarding cocoa payments and related interventions.
He emphasised that the fight was not a short-term political exercise but a sustained effort to protect livelihoods and ensure fairness within the cocoa value chain.
“Even if it takes years, we shall fight for what is due you,” he told farmers, drawing applause from sections of the crowd.
The Minority delegation, touring cocoa-growing communities in the Eastern Region, says it will continue to engage with farmers and raise their concerns at the national level, maintaining that cocoa farmers remain central to economic stability and deserve predictable pricing, timely payments, and policies that protect their income.
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