Cocoa farmers in the Ahafo Ano South-West District have called for the enactment of a comprehensive legal framework to regulate Ghana’s cocoa industry and protect it from political interference.
The appeal was made at a press conference in Mankranso by about 160 cocoa farmers, who urged Government, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and other stakeholders to prioritise long-term reforms that ensure stability in the sector.
Mr. Edward Kwame Yeboah, the 2025 National Best Cocoa Farmer, speaking on the theme “Stop the Cocoa Politics,” said frequent changes in government often result in policy shifts that disrupt cocoa farming activities and create uncertainty for producers.
He stressed the need for a permanent parliamentary act that would guarantee policy continuity and insulate the cocoa sector from partisan influence.
Mr. Yeboah acknowledged ongoing government interventions, including the proposed 70 percent automatic price adjustment mechanism, the distribution of free fertiliser, and the supply of cocoa seedlings.
While describing the measures as beneficial, he argued that they would remain unsustainable without firm legal backing to compel successive administrations to maintain them.
According to him, cocoa farmers are non-partisan stakeholders who deserve fair and impartial treatment under a stable legal regime that is free from political manipulation.
He urged farmers to accept the current producer price and exercise patience regarding future increments, as promised by government when international market conditions improve.
Mr. Yeboah said such restraint would demonstrate patriotism and support for national development, particularly at a time when declining global cocoa prices have affected government revenue.
He also cautioned unrecognised groups of farmers staging demonstrations to desist, noting that legitimate farmer representatives already participate in national price negotiation processes.
To strengthen trust within the sector, he encouraged cocoa farmer leaders to improve communication with their members by sharing outcomes of price negotiations and policy discussions to prevent misinformation.
Mr. Yeboah further appealed to Cocoa Buying Companies and their Purchasing Clerks to comply strictly with government directives on prompt payment, expressing concern that some farmers remain unpaid weeks after the official producer price announcement.
He maintained that protecting the cocoa industry through a clear legal framework would promote stability, safeguard farmer livelihoods, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
