Cocoa farmers want their money, pay them

Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the government to immediately settle outstanding payments owed to cocoa farmers, insisting that producers are more concerned about receiving their earnings than policy pronouncements.

His remarks come amid crisis in Ghana’s cocoa sector, where farmers have complained about delays in payments for months.

The government recently announced reforms, including a reduction in the producer price for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The new price has been adjusted to GH¢41,392 per tonne (GH¢2,587 per bag), representing 90 per cent of the achieved gross FOB price of $4,200 per tonne. Authorities say the adjustment is intended to cushion farmers against falling global cocoa prices.

However, speaking at the Thanksgiving Ceremony of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday, February 15, 2026, Mr. Afenyo-Markin criticised the decision and accused the government of worsening the plight of cocoa farmers.

“Cocoa farmers were being paid GH¢3,625 per bag. Today, the NDC government has reduced the price to GH¢2,587,” he said.

He argued that the issue goes beyond communication and public relations.

“What I want every NPP member to tell the NDC government is that it is not all about speaking very big English on social media and hiding behind CSOs. The cocoa farmers want their money, so pay them,” he stated.

The Minority Leader further alleged that farmers are incurring significant losses under the revised pricing regime and warned that the Minority Caucus would escalate the matter in Parliament.

“So, this week, for us, the Minority, it will be a scene to behold in Parliament. They must pay the cocoa farmers,” he added.