President John Dramani Mahama has called for pragmatic and farmer-centred reforms in Ghana’s cocoa industry, urging policymakers to ensure that decisions reflect the lived realities of producers.
Speaking at the inaugural Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, the President said his views on the sector are shaped not only by his oversight role but also by personal experience as a cocoa grower.
Mahama revealed that he has cultivated cocoa on 50 acres, explaining that fluctuations in global cocoa prices and policy adjustments directly affect him as they do thousands of farmers across the country.
“I planted cocoa on 50 acres, so I am a cocoa farmer. When the price is reduced by the government, it affects me too. I want to empathise with farmers so that when we take policy decisions, we understand the impact and feel it ourselves. If the price of fertiliser is high, I feel it because I also buy fertiliser,” he stated.
His remarks come amid ongoing debate over recent reforms in the cocoa economy, particularly the reduction of the producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag, attributed to instability on the international market.
The President acknowledged the delicate balance required in managing the sector, noting that while global market forces remain largely beyond Ghana’s control, domestic policies must cushion farmers from severe shocks.
He urged stakeholders, investors, and policymakers to collaborate in strengthening sustainability across the cocoa value chain, emphasising that reforms must prioritise productivity, fair pricing, and improved livelihoods.
