Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has cautioned the government against allowing Ghana’s cocoa sector to deteriorate, warning that such a development could undermine the sacrifices made by generations of cocoa farmers.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh made the remarks at the Mampong-Ohum Festival in the Eastern Region, where he joined the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, and residents to celebrate the annual festival.
His comments followed concerns raised by the Chief of Mampong, Nana Dartey, over the abandoned Millennium Village project in the community, which has historical links to the development of cocoa following the introduction of the crop to Ghana by Tetteh Quarshie.
According to Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, concerns over the abandoned project should also trigger broader discussions about the current state of Ghana’s cocoa industry and the welfare of farmers who have sustained the sector over the years.
The Minority Chief Whip said his recent nationwide engagement with cocoa farmers revealed concerns over producer prices and delays in payments for cocoa supplied.
He said cocoa farming could become increasingly unattractive if farmers do not receive adequate returns for their produce or are not paid on time.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh stressed that cocoa is more than an agricultural commodity, describing it as an industry built through the sacrifices and hard work of generations of Ghanaian farmers.
He therefore urged the government to take urgent steps to restore confidence in the sector, improve the welfare of farmers and ensure that cocoa farming remains economically viable.
The Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP said the concerns gathered during his nationwide cocoa tour had been compiled into a report and submitted to former Vice President and NPP presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
He said the report captures concerns raised by farmers and other stakeholders and is intended to contribute to policy discussions on the future of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said the Minority and other stakeholders are now awaiting Dr Bawumia’s policy statement on the findings and recommendations contained in the report.
He said the concerns raised by cocoa-growing communities should form part of the broader policy conversation on restoring the sector, improving farmer welfare and making cocoa farming attractive to the next generation.
“Let’s not collapse the cocoa sector by allowing the suffering of our ancestors to be in vain,” Mr. Annoh-Dompreh warned, urging the government to take steps to protect the industry and the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
He maintained that the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry requires urgent attention, given its historical importance and the generations of farmers whose labour has helped build the sector.
