The Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has reaffirmed the Minority Caucus’ commitment to advocating for improved conditions for cocoa farmers, declaring that the effort will continue for as long as necessary.
Addressing cocoa farmers at Akyekrom in the Eastern Region, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stressed that the campaign for fairness and equity within Ghana’s cocoa sector is a long-term undertaking. “We will fight for what is due to cocoa farmers, even if it takes years,” he assured the gathering.
The meeting formed part of a broader outreach initiative by the Minority Caucus aimed at engaging directly with farmers to better understand their concerns and the realities they face. The visit comes amid heightened dissatisfaction among cocoa producers following a recent reduction in producer prices.
Government representatives, including President John Dramani Mahama and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), have attributed the price adjustment to declining global cocoa prices and ongoing financial pressures within the sector. However, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah argued that farmers are unfairly shouldering a disproportionate share of the burden.
“Cocoa farmers are carrying too much of the burden, and that is something we will continue to challenge in Parliament,” he stated.
During the engagement, several farmers expressed frustration over delays in receiving payment for their produce, despite assurances that funds had been released. Mr. Oppong Nkrumah revealed that he had previously met some of the farmers privately and returned with his colleagues to ensure their grievances were comprehensively heard and documented.
“We came here to listen to you and to make sure your concerns are taken to the floor of Parliament,” he explained, emphasizing that the outreach was intended to translate grassroots concerns into parliamentary action.
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Beyond cocoa pricing and payment delays, farmers also raised broader economic challenges, including difficulties in marketing locally produced rice in the face of rising imports.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah assured the farmers that the Minority’s engagement was not symbolic but part of a sustained advocacy strategy. He pledged continued demands for transparency, accountability, and timely payments within the cocoa sector.
The Minority Caucus, he added, plans to extend similar engagements to other cocoa-growing communities nationwide, maintaining that cocoa farmers remain central to Ghana’s economic stability and must be protected through fair and responsive policies.
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Tags: #Akyekrom #President John Dramani Mahama
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