OFFINSO SOUTH MP AND NPP MEMBERS ENGAGES COCOA FARMERS OVER PRICE CONCERNS.

The Member of Parliament for Offinso South, Isaac Opoku, has revealed that he and his team have been directly engaging cocoa farmers to verify concerns surrounding the recent cocoa price discussions. Speaking in a phone interview with Nana Nhyiraba Kwabena Asrifi on Ghana Nti Today on ICAD TV, Hon. Dr. Opoku said their outreach was aimed at educating farmers and clarifying issues surrounding cocoa pricing. Farmers Demand Full Payment According to him, the team visited several cocoa-growing communities to determine whether the reported price adjustments were genuinely benefiting farmers. He explained that during interactions with farmers, comparisons were made with neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa pricing. After detailed discussions and explanations about how cocoa pricing works, farmers expressed that amounts such as GH¢3,100 — and even GH¢2,800 — should be fully paid to them as previously communicated during cabinet-level discussions. However, he alleged that farmers have not received payments as expected. “From November till now, they have not been paid. Even getting buyers to pay them has become difficult,” he stated. Not About Politics Hon. Dr. Opoku stressed that the issue goes beyond partisan politics. “We are not doing politics with this. This is a serious matter,” he emphasised. He suggested that the NDC government may have anticipated that international cocoa prices — which once reached around $13,000 per tonne — would continue rising, but the global price later declined. Ongoing Tour The Offinso South MP noted that his team has not yet completed its tour of cocoa-farming communities and intends to continue engaging farmers for further feedback and education on cocoa pricing structures. The discussion forms part of the broader national debate on cocoa prices, farmer welfare, and government policy following the 2025 State of the Nation Address.