The Volta and Oti Regional Chief Cocoa Farmer, Nana Kwame Abass, has defended President John Mahama’s recent cocoa price announcement, describing it as evidence that the government has fulfilled its promise to cocoa farmers.
Government on Monday, August 4, 2025, increased the producer price for cocoa for the 2025/2026 crop season from US$3,100 to US$5,040 per tonne—a 62.58% increase in dollar terms.
However, some critics have questioned the move, claiming the price contradicts Mahama’s earlier pledge to ensure farmers receive at least 70% of the world market price.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Nana Abass clarified that the President’s promise was based on the Free on Board (FOB) price on the world market, not the price per bag as widely assumed.
“President Mahama’s promise to increase the cocoa price by 70% was on the world market price, not per bag. But it seems most people didn’t get it. With this new cocoa price announced on Monday, per my calculation, it exceeds the 70%. Mahama is on course and has delivered the 70% FOB he promised,” he said.
He called for patience and support for the government’s efforts.
“This is the beginning. I was voted for, but I can’t press the neck of the government. We must all calm down and pray for him and see what happens in the next cocoa season,” he said.
On the cedi equivalent of the new price, Nana Abass pointed to the influence of exchange rates.
“Now the dollar is about 10 cedis, but when you calculate, you cannot get the 49,000 cedis. Looking at the 70% world producer price, cocoa per bag was $3,100, and if now another government has added 128.75, it is fair,” he noted.
He also rejected suggestions that farmers had been shortchanged.
“I don’t think we have been shortchanged. It is because of the dollar rate, that is what we have. We can’t always get everything 100%. We can only hope and pray for the best,” he added.
Listen to Nana Kwame Abass in the audio attached above:
Source: Gertrude Otchere
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