Minority Demands GHS 3,800 Cocoa Price, Blasts Gov’t for “Sakawa” Promises
Minority in Parliament urges government to fulfill its promise of fair cocoa pricing, demanding a minimum of GHS 3,800 per bag and accusing authorities of shortchanging hardworking farmers with deceptive justifications.
- Minority demands minimum of GHS 3,800 per cocoa bag for farmers
- Accuses government of breaking GHS 6,000 promise and using "sakawa" tactics
- Rejects fertiliser support as excuse for low producer prices
The Minority in Parliament is calling on the government to fulfil its pledge to cocoa farmers by raising the producer price of cocoa to at least GHS 3,800 per bag.
Speaking at a press briefing in Parliament, Dr. Isaac Opoku, Ranking Member of the Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, said the current market conditions justify a significant price increase. He slammed the government’s justification—blaming exchange rate volatility—as weak and misleading.
Dr. Opoku also accused the government of backtracking on a previous promise to pay farmers up to GHS 6,000 per bag, branding the recently announced cocoa price hike as “sakawa,” a term connoting trickery. He urged farmers not to accept low returns on their hard work.
The Minority further dismissed the government’s provision of free fertiliser and farm inputs as a recycled promise, insisting that cocoa farmers deserve tangible rewards for their consistent contribution to the nation’s economy.
