Members of Parliament from both sides of the House have debated on the recent reduction of cocoa producer price from GHc 3,625 to GHc 2,587 per bag as announced by the Finance Minister Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson.   

While Members from the Minority Caucus were advocating for the Government to reverse the recent reduction price, the Majority Caucus justified the Government’s position for the reduction. 

Making a statement to call on Government to immediately reverse the cocoa producer price, the Minority leader, Hon  Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin described the decision by the Government as unfair to cocoa farmers and called on government to restore the producer price of cocoa to its original value of GHC 3,625 per 64 kilograms bag with immediate effect.

He further demanded that COCOBOD compensate the farmers and the LBCs for any loss incurred as a result of the reduction of cocoa producer price. 

However, the Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga argued that Cabinet has proposed a number of reforms to guarantee fair prices to farmers to secure the financial viability of the cocoa sector and ensure the long -term sustainability of the industry.

According to him, Cabinet convened an emergency session to deliberate over developments in the cocoa sector and took key decisions considering the historical and systematic problems confronting the sector.

He assured that the reforms will protect the interests of cocoa farmers and transform the sector.