Minority Chief Whip in Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has questioned the timing of the recent reduction in cocoa prices, suggesting the decision may have been politically influenced.
Speaking on Tuesday, April 7, during the Minority caucus’s tour of the Bono Region, he asked whether President John Dramani Mahama would have taken a similar decision if the country were heading into an election year.
“Would Mahama have reduced cocoa prices if this year was an election year? He thinks he can punish cocoa farmers now and later offer them small incentives during elections to win their votes,” he stated.
Annoh-Dompreh further alleged that cocoa prices could be increased during election periods to gain the support of farmers, describing the current adjustment as potentially driven by political considerations rather than economic necessity.
He stressed the need for fairness and consistency in pricing policies, arguing that cocoa farmers—who play a critical role in the economy—should not be subjected to decisions influenced by political calculations.
“This is about fairness and respect for the backbone of our economy. Cocoa farmers should not be subjected to arbitrary pricing decisions driven by politics,” he added.
The Minority caucus’s visit to the Bono Region forms part of efforts to engage directly with farmers and assess the impact of the price changes on their livelihoods.
Annoh-Dompreh called on the government to implement transparent and predictable cocoa pricing policies to safeguard farmers from what he described as politically motivated economic decisions.
