Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, has vowed that the minority caucus this week will force the NDC government to pay cocoa farmers what is due them.
According to Afenyo-Markin, cocoa farmers are more concerned about receiving their earnings than policy pronouncements and big English on social media.
The minority leader also declared that this week in parliament, it will be a scene to behold.
Speaking at the Thanksgiving Ceremony of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday, February 15, 2026, Afenyo-Markin stated, “Cocoa farmers were being paid GH¢3,625 per bag. Today, the NDC government has reduced the price to GH¢2,587”
“What I want every NPP member to tell the NDC government is that it is not all about speaking very big English on social media and hiding behind CSOs. The cocoa farmers want their money, so pay them,” he stated.
The minority leader added, “So, this week, for us, the Minority, it will be a scene to behold in Parliament. They must pay the cocoa farmers”.
They will try to divide us and come with all manner of arrests. When their back is against the wall, they will come out with arrest, please, if you are a politician and you are arrested, it is not a sin, let us remain focused behind Dr Bawumia and win power in 2028. Don’t let them intimidate you with arrest”.
Also, the Minority in Parliament has told President John Dramani Mahama to immediately dismiss the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, over the ongoing crisis facing the cocoa sector.
According to the Minority, the recent reduction in the producer price of cocoa will have serious consequences for cocoa farmers and their families.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, February 12, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, stated, “… Respectfully, we ask the president to relieve the COCOBOD Board CEO of his responsibilities at this point in time.”
“The NDC government should absorb the cost of what they have done and protect the cocoa farmer, and restore at least the GH¢3,625 that they promised. This GH¢2,800 or so that they are promising is totally unacceptable.
“Already, we are receiving messages from cocoa farmers who say that if this is what is going to happen, they are going to demonstrate in a number of days. And if they do, we will join them on the streets to do this demonstration,” he warned.
His remarks follow, 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.
According to Ato Forson, the decision comes after the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC), under his chairmanship, convened earlier in the day to assess the challenges facing the Cocoa sector.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, February 12, Dr Forson disclosed, “The PPRC has recommended that the farmer be paid 90% of the achieved gross fob of USD 4,200 per tonne”.
He added that the committee set the new producer price at GH₵41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH₵2,587 per bag, effective immediately.
“As a result of that, the PPRC thereby announces that effective today, Thursday, 12th February, 2026, the new producer price for the remainder of the 2025, 2026 crop season will now be GH 41, 392 per tonne and 2,587 per bag,” he noted.
“This measure is necessary to enable the expedited payment of farmers and to guarantee the sustainability of our cocoa industry,” he said.
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We will force the NDC to pay cocoa farmers what is due them – Alexander Afenyo Markin, Minority Leader.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/cojkm6hLg8
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) February 15, 2026