Deputy Minister for Trade and Agribusiness, Sampson Ahi, has rejected claims that the government has shortchanged cocoa farmers with the newly announced producer price.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Ahi said the government has kept its promise of ensuring farmers receive at least 70 percent of the world market price for cocoa.
“We have not lied to cocoa farmers. We want to be factual with the issues. The 70 percent we promised in our manifesto is exactly what we’ve delivered,” he stated.
He explained that the promise to pay GH₵6,000 per tonne during the campaign period was made in a particular context, when cocoa prices were higher and the cedi was weaker.
“At the time we made that comment, one tonne of cocoa was selling between $9,000 and $10,000 on the world market. The exchange rate was around GH₵16 to $1. If we had given the farmer $5,040 per tonne using that rate, they would have received over GH₵81,000,” Mr. Ahi explained.
He added, “Today, the exchange rate has appreciated. So with $5,040 per tonne, the farmer will now receive about GH₵51,000. That’s the difference. But the percentage—70 percent of the world market price—has not changed. We have fulfilled our promise.”
Mr. Ahi also clarified that under the previous NPP administration, farmers were paid around GH₵3,100 per tonne, even when global prices were significantly higher.
“That’s why we said we would pay GH₵6,000. But it was based on the conditions at the time,” he stressed. “We want to be careful and responsible with pricing, especially with the way cocoa prices fluctuate. But what we’ve done is fair.”
The government, on Monday, approved a new producer price of $5,040 per tonne, up from $3,100, marking a 62.58% increase.
The announcement was made by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson in a post on social media following a meeting of the Producer Price Review Committee, which he chairs.
Despite the increase, some farmers have said the jump is not enough.
But Mr. Ahi insists the cocoa farmers are not being shortchanged.
“The cocoa farmer will be okay with what we are giving them now. It’s a fair deal, and it shows this government is listening,” he concluded.
Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
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