New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged to develop an alternative policy framework for Ghana’s cocoa sector following concerns over the government’s decision to reduce producer prices.
Speaking after receiving a report from a Minority Caucus committee that toured cocoa-growing communities, Bawumia said the findings would be submitted to the party’s Policy Committee on Agriculture, Food Security and Agribusiness for technical review and further consultation with industry experts.
The move comes after the government announced a reduction in the cocoa producer price to GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag, for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season, a decision that has sparked criticism among some stakeholders.
Bawumia said the policy committee would be tasked with assessing the committee’s findings and proposing costed alternatives to address the challenges facing cocoa farmers.
“What I am looking at with the presentation of this report is to take this Select Committee report to the Policy Committee on Agriculture, Food Security, and Agribusiness,” he said.
“We are going to ask this committee to technically review the findings, consult experts in the area, and then bring forward costed policy alternatives for us.”
The report was compiled following engagements between a Minority Caucus team, led by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, and cocoa farmers across key producing areas.
Bawumia said the exercise formed part of broader efforts to develop policies aimed at stabilising the cocoa industry and improving conditions for producers, a sector that remains a major contributor to Ghana’s economy.
Source: asaaseradio.com
