The Ghanaian cocoa sector is on its knees. This sector which has been an anchor of Ghana’s economy since independence and has been supporting our economy with 2%-10% of our GDP is crumbling.
For instance, in 2021 alone, cocoa contributed about GHS3.1 billion ($533 Million) to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounting for over 10% of the country’s GDP.
Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa globally with a contribution of 25% of the world produce.
Ghana recorded its highest ever cocoa production in 2020/2021, that is 1,047, 000 metric tons with the introduction of Production Enhancement Programs known as the 4 Ps (Pruning, Pollination,Poultry Manure and Protection) in 2017. Sadly we have been struggling to achieve (even) 800,000 metric tons since then.
Ghanaians are predominantly farmers and the cocoa sector employs more than two million people in Ghana.
Because of how sensitive the cocoa sector is to the ordinary Ghanaian, it has always been a subject of attraction in every political season. The ‘Cocoa Politics’ is one of the reasons which accounted for the birth of National Liberation Movement by Okyeame Akoto in 1954. It didn’t start today ooo. . .
The erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo took the producer price of cocoa from GHS 475 in 2016/2017 season to GHS 3,100 in 2024/2025 season.
Despite this significant increment by the then Akufo Addo government, this current NDC John Mahama led government which was then in opposition was always on the ‘neck’ of Akufo Addo describing him as a cheat so far as cocoa pricing is concerned.https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/cocoa-farmers-deserve-better-minority.html
The NDC Minority (then) went further to give a litany of promises to these ‘suffering ‘ cocoa farmers- from free supply of fertilizers, to an increase of GHS 6,500 of the producer price (64kg) of cocoa.
Astonishly, none of these promises has been fulfilled since they assumed office. In fact the government can’t even keep up to what they came to meet.
Galamsey is crippling the cocoa sector. Ecuador is now on its way to leapfrog Ghana to become the second largest producer of cocoa in the word with a projection of 650,000 tons of cocoa this 2026/2027 season. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ecuador-set-become-worlds-no-2-cocoa-grower-industry-head-says-2025-09-22/
To exacerbate the above, more than 80% of the off takers who invested in the Ghanaian cocoa sector have switched to LA Cote Divoire. The off takers (Internatioal Traders) are no longer providing liquity to the Local Buying Companies (LBCs) in Ghana.
This quagmire has cascaded down to the ordinary cocoa farmer since the LBCs are not also resourcing their District Managers through their sector Managers to the Purchasing Clerks (PCs) who buys the cocoa at the farmgate.
Today, bags of cocoa are heaped in the houses of farmers and warehouses of PCs.There is no money to buy them! The local economy in cocoa growing areas is on its knees- nothing is moving. The farmers are crying and squeaking with no end in site.https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Cocoa-farmers-have-not-been-paid-since-November-GNACOF-claims-2017770
The sad thing is that, this government doesn’t care- they have banged all their hopes on galamsey gold for GOLDBOD. They are prepared to sacrifice everything for the survival of galamsey gold without thinking about the repercussions and sustainability!
Unemployment has become a national security threat in Ghana. Demoralizing cocoa farmers will further worsen the situation looking at the chunk of the population it employs. Galamsey is the nail in the coffin and the government must act with speed for a sustainable future.
The Farmer’s Son,
Aduse Poku
Ahafo Noberkaw
0247062074
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