The Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre South, Damata Ama Appianimaa Salam, has highlighted the struggles of cocoa farmers, particularly women, who are grappling with the effects of delayed payments and reductions in cocoa prices.
She described their situation as a matter of life and called for urgent government attention.
Her concerns follow a recent visit to cocoa farming communities in the Ashanti Region, part of the Minority Caucus’s ongoing tour to engage farmers and better understand their challenges.
Speaking to Adom News on the sidelines of a cocoa farmers’ engagement event held at Kwakokrom in the Amansie West District, the legislator said the accounts shared by female farmers were deeply troubling and reflected severe hardship that can no longer be ignored.
“These women are not just farmers, they’re mothers, they’re breadwinners,” the MP said.
According to her, the farmers are struggling to provide basic necessities such as food, healthcare, and education for their children.
She expressed concern over the hardships endured by many farmers, stating that some have died while others are bedridden, largely due to cocoa price reductions and delayed payments.
She recounted the distressing case of a female cocoa farmer whose husband was hospitalized, but they could not afford his treatment because the purchasing clerk had taken their cocoa without making payment.
She questioned the President and those managing the cocoa sector on how many more farmers must suffer before appropriate measures are taken.
“We implore the President to understand that the reality on the ground is not what was promised. Some farmers cannot feed their children, pay their medical bills, or even afford their children’s school fees,” she stated.
“How many more cocoa farmers must die before the government understands the plight of the farmers and takes appropriate action?” Damata Ama Appianimaa Salam asked.
After engaging with the farmers, the MP noted that many are calling for cocoa prices to be restored to previous levels, particularly if government is unable to meet its commitments.
She emphasized that the challenges facing cocoa farmers should not be politicised, describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis.
“This is not about NPP or NDC,” she stressed. “What I witnessed should not be our usual political conversation. The reality on the ground is very sad, and it is escalating beyond the cocoa sector.”
She also urged the President and female Members of Parliament to treat the issue with the urgency it deserves.
Her remarks add to growing calls for government action to address concerns within the cocoa sector and protect the livelihoods of farmers.
