Tension briefly erupted in Parliament on Friday when members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus staged a protest moments before President John Dramani Mahama began delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Just as the President prepared to speak, Minority MPs rose from their seats holding cocoa pods. They were clad in black and wore sashes bearing the inscription “Cocoa Akuafo Yɛyɛ Mɔbɔ Dodo.”
The message, loosely translated, signalled their concern over what they described as a deepening crisis in Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The legislators sang protest songs inside the chamber, drawing attention to falling cocoa production, the hardships faced by farmers, and broader challenges confronting the industry.
Their demonstration briefly disrupted the usually composed atmosphere that accompanies the annual constitutional address.
According to members of the caucus, their choice of black attire symbolised mourning for cocoa farmers whose livelihoods, they argue, have been severely strained in recent years.
Despite the momentary disruption, order was restored shortly afterwards, allowing President Mahama to proceed with his address outlining the government’s performance and policy direction for the year ahead.
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