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NPP Government Shortchanges Cocoa Farmers: A Closer Look at the Discrepancies....Twifo Atti-Morkwa NDC Communication Officer.





NPP Government Shortchanges Cocoa Farmers: A Closer Look at the Discrepancies.... Twifo Atti-Morkwa NDC Communication Officer.

In recent years, Ghana's cocoa farmers have faced significant disparities in the payments they receive for their hard work. A comparison of current cocoa pricing practices under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government with those from the era of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) highlights a troubling trend: farmers are being shortchanged, while the government profits disproportionately.

As of today, the global market price for cocoa stands at $6,470 per ton. With an exchange rate of Ghc 16.35 to $1, this translates to Ghc 105,784.50 per ton in Ghanaian cedis. Given that one ton comprises 16 bags, this sets the price per bag at Ghc 6,611.00. However, the current government pays cocoa farmers only Ghc 3,000 per ton—just 45.39% of the total price—retaining the remaining 54.61%, or Ghc 3,609.52 per ton.

In stark contrast, under the NDC government led by John Mahama in 2016, the price for cocoa was considerably lower at $2,950 per ton, with an exchange rate of Ghc 3.90 to $1. This equated to Ghc 11,505 per ton or Ghc 719 per bag. At that time, farmers received Ghc 475 per bag—66.06% of the total price—while the government kept Ghc 244 per bag (33.94%).

Applying the same payment percentage from the Mahama era to today's cocoa price, farmers should be receiving Ghc 4,367.64 per bag. Instead, they are receiving a fraction of this amount under the current administration, highlighting a significant drop in the share of earnings allocated to the farmers.

This discrepancy raises serious concerns about the current government's commitment to the welfare of cocoa farmers, who are the backbone of Ghana’s cocoa industry. The stark difference in payment percentages underscores a growing need for reassessment of the pricing and payment structures in place to ensure that farmers are fairly compensated for their crucial role in the sector.

Benjamin Coleman; Twifo Atti-Morkwa NDC communication director 

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