The Minority Chief Whip in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has claimed that the government has asked Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to stop buying cocoa across the country. According to him, this decision is creating serious difficulties for many cocoa farmers.
He said the directive has made it hard for farmers to sell their cocoa at a time when they are already dealing with a reduction in the price paid to them for their produce.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh made these comments on Sunday when he visited Offinso in the Ashanti Region. He said the situation shows that farmers, who play a key role in Ghana’s cocoa industry, are not receiving the support they need.
“The government has directed Licensed Buying Companies to stop buying cocoa across the country, and this is worrying many farmers. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast is still continuing with its cocoa purchases,” he said.
His remarks came when a group of Minority Members of Parliament paid a courtesy visit to the Paramount Chief of the Offinso Traditional Area, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, during the Akwasidae Festival.
The visit was part of a five-day tour by the Minority Caucus to cocoa-growing communities in the Ashanti Region. The tour, led by Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, aims to meet farmers and understand their concerns following the recent reduction in cocoa producer prices.
Before starting the tour, the delegation followed traditional protocol by visiting the caretaker of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to seek his blessing.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, who is a member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), warned that stopping cocoa purchases could make the financial situation of farmers even worse.
He explained that changes in global cocoa prices are not new, but Ghana has always had systems in place to protect farmers from the full impact of such changes.
According to him, the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has not used these systems effectively to support farmers.
“The reactions we are hearing from farmers show that they are unhappy and uncomfortable with the reduction in cocoa prices,” he said.
Even though he criticised the government’s actions, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said the purpose of the tour is not to create conflict but to speak with farmers and better understand the problems they are facing.
Nana Dwamena Akenten II welcomed the delegation and praised them for coming to speak directly with cocoa farmers.
He said farmers are very important to Ghana’s cocoa economy and urged leaders and policymakers to pay more attention to their concerns.
“The reduction in cocoa prices has affected us deeply because I am also a cocoa farmer. It is good that you have come to listen to the farmers yourselves,” the chief said.
However, he advised the visiting MPs to make sure their discussions with farmers are not influenced by politics.
On behalf of the Asantehene, the chief gave the delegation permission to continue their tour of cocoa-growing communities in the Ashanti Region.
