Mahama: “As a cocoa farmer, government price cuts affect me too”
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that his personal experience as a cocoa farmer informs his approach to agricultural policy, emphasizing that government decisions on crop prices directly affect farmers—including himself.
Speaking on the importance of empathy in policymaking at the Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition 2026, President Mahama stated, “So I’m a cocoa farmer, and so when the price was reduced by government, it affects me too. I also feel it when fertilizer is unavailable or expensive, because I also buy fertilizer.”
The President disclosed that he has recently expanded his farming operations, acquiring an additional 100 acres of land dedicated to oil palm cultivation. “We’ve planted the oil palm, and we’re putting in the irrigation system,” he noted, highlighting his hands-on engagement in agriculture.
President Mahama also underscored that public officials should share in the realities of farming to make informed policy decisions. “When we take any policy decision, we must know that it has an effect on farmers, and we must feel it ourselves,” he said.
He went on to announce that future public service appointments may include farming experience as a criterion. “Whether ministers, civil servants, clergy, or traditional rulers, everyone should practice agriculture in their own communities. Agriculture must be taken seriously we must lead by example. We cannot continue to tell people to go back to the land if we ourselves are not willing to do so,” Mahama added.
The President’s remarks reflect his commitment to linking personal experience with policy, ensuring that agricultural decisions are grounded in real-life challenges faced by farmers.
