The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss Dr. Randy Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), citing what they describe as a deepening crisis in the cocoa sector. They argue that the recent reduction in the producer price of cocoa—estimated at about 28.6 percent—will severely impact the livelihoods of more than one million farmers nationwide.
Addressing journalists in Accra on Thursday, February 12, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, criticised the government’s decision: The comments follow the government’s announcement of a new cocoa producer price of GH¢41,392 per tonne, or GH¢2,587 per bag, for the remainder of the 2025–2026 crop season, effective Thursday, February 12.
The revised price is a significant reduction from the initial rate of GH¢51,660 per tonne, which was set at the start of the season. Earlier, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson explained that the adjustment was necessary due to changes in global cocoa market conditions. He said the measure is aimed at stabilising the sector, restoring confidence, and ensuring timely payments to farmers.
Source: Abigail Arthur
