Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Criticises Cocoa Management, Says Farmers Neglected Despite Global Demand

The former Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has criticized Ghana’s cocoa management system, arguing that farmers continue to suffer despite the country’s dominance in the global cocoa market.

Speaking via zoom on Kessben Maakye today about the state of the cocoa sector, the veteran lawmaker said cocoa farmers have been “disintegrated” within the value chain, largely due to how government policies are being implemented.

According to him, even some of the nation’s best cocoa farmers cannot afford to build modest three-bedroom houses from their earnings , a situation he described as unacceptable for a country long regarded as a leading cocoa producer.

He noted that past assurances of continuous increments in producer prices never materialised, leaving farmers frustrated and eroding confidence in state interventions.

In addition he referenced a similar situation occurred during Ex- President Nkrumah’s era hence the emergence of the National Liberation Counsel that opposed the government for not fulfilling its promises.

The Majority Leader also compared Ghana’s cocoa purchasing system with that of neighbouring Ivory Coast, explaining that private buyers there play a more active role in purchasing cocoa, unlike Ghana where government structures dominate the process.

He warned that persistent price differences between Ghana and Ivory Coast could fuel cross-border smuggling of cocoa beans.

He therefore urged authorities to consider alternative funding sources to cushion farmers rather than reducing producer prices.

Touching on the leadership of Ghana Cocoa Board , he said he was unimpressed with the performance of the current Chief Executive Officer, Randy Abbey, judging from how he was criticizing the former government – suggesting the handling of the cocoa sector raises concerns about administrative direction.

He further condemned the CEO’s utterance that describes circulating claims that the CEO sent his chair during farmer-level activities, as “silly” describing such public commentary as unhelpful and potentially damaging to both the individual and government.

The comments add to growing national debate over cocoa pricing, farmer welfare and reforms needed to sustain Ghana’s most important agricultural export.