The Minority Caucus on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs has strongly condemned the government's recently announced cocoa farm gate price for the 2025/2026 season, describing it as an affront to Ghana’s cocoa farmers.

At a press conference on Monday, Ranking Member of the Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, criticised the government’s decision to set the farm gate price at GH₵3,228.75 per 64kg bag, a marginal 4.2% increase from last season’s GH₵3,100.00.

“This is not just disappointing — it’s a betrayal of farmers who have sustained Ghana’s economy for generations,” Opoku declared, labelling the new rate a “Sakawa price” that fails to reflect current international market trends.

The Minority reminded the public of campaign promises made by now-Ministers Eric Opoku and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who assured cocoa farmers they would receive GH₵6,000 to GH₵7,000 per bag if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won power. The current pricing, they argue, is a far cry from those commitments.

The Caucus also questioned the credibility of the government's pricing model, especially in the face of public assurances by COCOBOD’s Chief Executive that Ghana’s farm gate price would surpass that of neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire. Yet, available data shows Ivorian farmers earn approximately GH₵3,635 per bag — GH₵407 more than their Ghanaian counterparts — raising further fears of cross-border smuggling and market distortions.

With global cocoa prices soaring to as high as $12,000 per metric ton, the Minority argues that Ghanaian farmers should be earning at least GH₵3,718 per bag, based on the government’s stated commitment to pay farmers 70% of the Free on Board (FOB) price.

They demanded full disclosure of revenue from the 2024/2025 cocoa season, along with accountability for all donor transfers, grants, and external support received by COCOBOD in 2025.

The Caucus further accused the government of misrepresenting the distribution of critical farm inputs — such as fertilisers and pesticides — as “free,” when in reality, the cost is deducted from farmers’ expected share of the FOB price.

According to the Minority, many cocoa farmers feel betrayed and demoralised by the current state of affairs. Some, they warn, are contemplating abandoning cocoa cultivation altogether, turning instead to illegal mining (galamsey) for better financial prospects.

They called on the government to urgently review the announced price, honour its previous promises, and develop a sustainable, transparent, and farmer-centred pricing policy that reflects the true value of cocoa to Ghana’s economy.

“The sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry is at stake. We must act now to restore dignity, fairness, and hope to our farmers.” the Minority warned.