The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor has called for urgent reforms in Ghana’s cocoa sector, urging government officials to acknowledge what he describes as serious challenges affecting farmers and the broader industry.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Mr. Jinapor compared Ghana’s cocoa performance with that of neighboring Côte d’Ivoire, noting that both countries share similar population sizes and industry dynamics.
He emphasised that although Ghana is widely recognised for producing premium cocoa, farmers are currently receiving lower prices than their counterparts across the border.
According to Mr. Jinapor, who is also the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Côte d’Ivoire has managed to maintain stronger producer prices despite facing similar global headwinds, including fluctuations in international cocoa prices and other external shocks.
He suggested that this contrast raises important questions about domestic policy decisions and the management of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The legislator also expressed concern about what he described as one of the most significant reductions in cocoa producer prices in Ghana’s history, noting that such a situation has not occurred in the post-independence era dating back to Kwame Nkrumah in 1957.
Mr. Jinapor urged the government to take responsibility for the current state of affairs and to adopt a more responsive and informed approach to managing the cocoa industry.
He stressed the need for transparency, sound judgment in cocoa trading, and policies that prioritise the welfare of farmers.
The comments come at a time when Ghana’s cocoa sector—long considered a major backbone of the national economy—is grappling with pricing concerns and broader structural challenges.
Industry watchers say the debate underscores the importance of sustainable policy decisions to protect farmers’ incomes and strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness in the global cocoa market.
