Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ofoase-Ayirebi MP, has pledged a persistent fight in Parliament to secure cocoa farmers’ rightful earnings, vowing the Minority will not relent.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, has pledged to continue advocating in Parliament for the fair treatment of cocoa farmers, vowing that the Minority Caucus will not relent “even if it takes years” to secure what is rightfully owed to them.

Oppong Nkrumah, who serves as the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, made the remarks during a visit to Akyekrom, a cocoa-producing community in his constituency, as part of the Minority Caucus’s broader tour of farming areas in the Eastern Region. This outreach follows growing dissatisfaction among farmers after a recent reduction in cocoa producer prices.

While the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and President John Dramani Mahama have attributed the price adjustment to declining global cocoa prices and financial pressures within the sector, opposition lawmakers from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) argue that the decision unfairly burdens farmers, already struggling with rising input costs and household expenses.

Speaking to farmers at Akyekrom, Oppong Nkrumah shared that he had met with them privately in the past, during which they voiced their frustration with the current pricing system and delayed payments. This latest visit, he explained, was an opportunity to formally listen to their concerns and reassure them that their issues would be pursued vigorously in Parliament.

Farmers at the gathering voiced concerns that government announcements regarding fund releases had not resulted in actual payments at the farm gate, with some still waiting for money they had been told had been disbursed. Others also highlighted broader economic difficulties, including unsold rice stocks, which they attributed to increased rice imports that have diminished local demand.

In his response, Oppong Nkrumah assured the farmers that the Minority Caucus would continue holding the government accountable, demanding greater transparency regarding cocoa payments and related interventions. He stressed that this effort would not be a short-term political move, but rather a long-term commitment to protecting farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring fairness within the cocoa value chain.

“Even if it takes years, we will fight for what is due you,” he said, earning applause from the farmers.

The Minority delegation, which is touring cocoa-growing communities in the Eastern Region, has promised to keep engaging with farmers and raise their concerns at the national level, reaffirming that cocoa farmers are vital to Ghana’s economic stability and deserve reliable pricing, timely payments, and policies that safeguard their incomes.

Story: EfuaNessa
Source: Loco tv