Source;tntnewspapergh.com
PRESS RELEASE
POSITION OF THE GHANA COOPERATIVE COCOA FARMERS AND
MARKETING ASSOCIATION LTD ON THE REDUCTION OF FARMGATE PRICE
The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited (GCCFA) at an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, 17th February 2025, deliberated extensively on the recent developments in the cocoa sector, particularly the announced reduction in the cocoa farmgate price.
After careful discussions, the Association wishes to present its official position as follows:
1. Rejection of the New Farmgate Price: GCCFA and its entire membership strongly reject the reduction of the producer price from GHS 3,625 to GHS 2,587. If any price adjustment must occur, it should take effect in the 2026/2027 cocoa season and not within the current season.
2. Proposed Bill Not Yet Law: The proposed government bill concerning reforms in the cocoa sector has not yet been presented to Parliament and remains unenacted. Therefore, any reduction in the farmgate price should be suspended until such reforms are legally implemented.
3. Representation on Key Committees: GCCFA formally requests representation on the Price Review Committee and on the Board of the Ghana Cocoa Board to ensure that the interests of cocoa farmers are adequately represented in decision-making processes.
4. Input Supply Policy: Government (through COCOBOD) should discontinue the direct supply of inputs such as fertilizers, chemicals, and pruning services, and instead incorporate the cost of such inputs into the cocoa producer price to allow farmers the flexibility to manage their production inputs independently.
5. Risk of Smuggling and Illegal Mining: The Association warns that a reduction in cocoa prices will likely encourage increased smuggling of cocoa beans across borders and drive farmers toward illegal mining (galamsey), further threatening Ghana’s cocoa industry.
- Use of the Stabilization Fund: The government should utilize the Cocoa Stabilization Fund to maintain the existing farmgate price until the end of the current season in order to protect farmers from sudden economic hardship.
- Representation Concerns: GCCFA states clearly that COCOSHE does not represent the interests of cocoa cooperative associations and cocoa farmers at large.
- Lack of Clear Timeline for Sold Cocoa Beans: The absence of a clear timeline regarding payments and transactions for already sold cocoa beans has deepened frustration and uncertainty among cocoa farmers.
- Call for Government Response: GCCFA respectfully calls on the government to provide clear responses to these concerns within fourteen (14) days of this release. The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited remains committed to protecting the welfare, livelihood, and sustainability of cocoa farmers across Ghana. We call on all stakeholders to engage in transparent and constructive dialogue to safeguard the future of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Issifu Issaka
Association President
Joseph Yaw Bosompem
Association Secretary
