“We’ve Kept Our Promise”—Deputy Trade Minister Defends New Cocoa Price Amid Farmer Concerns
Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi insists government has honoured its promise to cocoa farmers, attributing current price differences to exchange rate shifts and global market fluctuations.
- Gov’t maintains it fulfilled promise to cocoa farmers by paying 70% of world market price
- New producer price set at $5,040 per tonne, marking a 62.58% increase.
- Deputy Minister says context of exchange rate and market prices influenced actual cedi payments.
Deputy Minister for Trade and Agribusiness, Sampson Ahi, has firmly denied allegations that the government has shortchanged cocoa farmers with the newly approved producer price.
In an interview, he asserted that the government remains true to its manifesto pledge by ensuring farmers receive 70% of the world market price for cocoa.
According to Mr. Ahi, the earlier campaign promise to pay GH₵6,000 per tonne was based on global cocoa prices then hovering around $9,000–$10,000 and a weaker cedi.
With the current rate now at $5,040 per tonne and a stronger cedi, farmers are receiving around GH₵51,000 per tonne—still within the promised 70% threshold.
He contrasted this with the previous NPP administration’s record of paying GH₵3,100 per tonne even when global prices were relatively high.
Despite some concerns from farmers that the new price isn’t sufficient, Mr. Ahi maintains that the deal is fair and reflects the government’s commitment to transparency and responsible pricing.
