“I’m a Cocoa Farmer Too” — Mahama Highlights Farmer Struggles Amid Price Cuts

President John Dramani Mahama has called for farmer-focused policies in Ghana’s cocoa sector, drawing on his own experience as a cocoa farmer to underline the real-life impact of government pricing decisions.

Speaking at the maiden Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition on Tuesday, February 17, Mahama said he personally understands the economic pressures facing cocoa farmers, particularly in light of recent volatility in global cocoa prices and sector reforms.

The remarks come after the controversial reduction of the farmgate price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag, a move aimed at aligning domestic prices with fluctuating international markets.

“Nana Kwebu Ewusi gave me 50 acres of land, and I planted cocoa on the 50 acres, so I am a cocoa farmer. So when the price is reduced by the government, it affects me too. I want to be able to empathise with farmers so that when we take any policy decision, we know that it has an effect on farmers and we feel it ourselves,” he said.

Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after Côte d’Ivoire, depends on cocoa as a major source of foreign exchange and livelihood for over 800,000 farm households. The sector also supports millions of people across farming, transport, and processing industries.

Global cocoa prices have experienced sharp swings in recent years, peaking at historic highs of over $10,000 per tonne in 2024 before declining due to improved production forecasts and market corrections. Such fluctuations have created uncertainty for both farmers and policymakers.

President Mahama emphasised that pricing and sector reforms must reflect the realities faced by farmers, whose incomes rely heavily on annual producer price adjustments set by the Ghana Cocoa Board. He stressed that policies affecting cocoa production directly influence rural livelihoods, household welfare, and educational opportunities.

The summit, organised with support from the Ghana Tree Crops Authority, aims to attract investment into key tree crops such as cocoa, cashew, rubber, coconut, and oil palm, part of efforts to diversify Ghana’s agricultural economy and boost value addition.

Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the cocoa sector through fair pricing, productivity investment, and measures ensuring farmers receive equitable returns. He concluded that aligning policy with farmers’ lived experiences is essential to securing the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry and maintaining its global competitiveness.