Professor Yarhands Dissou Arthur, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region, has debunked claims that the party in opposition promised cocoa farmers an increase in price.
According to the Professor, the NDC in opposition never promised cocoa farmers an increase in price.
He detailed that the NDC argument was that cocoa farmers under Akufo-Addo were not being paid well per the world market price.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Akoma FM, Professor Yarhands Dissou Arthur explained, “The NDC in opposition never promised cocoa farmers that when they come to power, we’re going to increase cocoa prices. What we said was that, per the world market price at the time and our calculations, the Akufo-Addo government wasn’t paying the farmers accurately and that the prices should have been increased.
“We told the Akufo-Addo government and the farmers that if we were in power, we would have done better for these farmers, and that was a conditional statement. We didn’t say that when we come to power, we are going to increase cocoa prices. No! We didn’t make any emphatic statement,” the university don stressed.
However, an irate cocoa farmer, in Adomfe, has boldly told President John Mahama that their marriages are collapsing as they are going hungry.
According to the irate cocoa farmer, President Mahama has thrown dust into their eyes after he promised to increase the cocoa price beyond what they expected.
The irate cocoa farmer recounted how former President Akufo-Addo, during covid time, cut the salaries of his appointees to help Ghanaians, arguing that Mahama, on the other hand, has increased salaries by 67 per cent.
Speaking to the media, the Cocoa farmer stated, “Mahama has thrown dust in the eyes of Ghanaians. President Mahama, I am not begging you, I am telling you that, Cocoa farmers, here you are collapsing our marriage, you are making us go hungry, and you are also making people starting a cocoa farm stop.
The old price you told us you were going to increase it more than expected, that was why people voted for you. Those gathered here, if we list the number of farmers who voted, we are a lot”.
He added, “Because of the deceit you told us, Akufo-Addo and his appointees were taking our money when you came, what you promised us, you have not been able to give it to us. During Akufo-Addo’s time, when there was covid his MPs, MCEs and other he cut their salaries to help the country. As for yours, you have to increase your people’s pay by 67 per cent”.
Meanwhile, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who announced a revised cocoa price of 64kg cocoa bag from GHS 3,625 to GHS 2,587 for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.
Also, Ato Forson announced key reforms aimed at strengthening the cocoa sector, adding that the Cabinet has also directed the Attorney General to commission concurrent forensic and criminal investigations into COCOBOD’s activities.
He stated, “To ensure accountability and transparency in the management of COCOBOD and the cocoa sector as a whole, Cabinet has also directed the Attorney General to commission concurrent forensic and criminal investigations into COCOBOD’s activities over the last eight years”.