As the Minority’s tour of cocoa-growing belts enters its fifth day, Bosomtwe Member of Parliament and former Education Minister, Yaw Osei Adutwum, has leveled a blistering critique against the Mahama administration.
The controversial decision to reduce cocoa producer prices is a move Adutwum claims ignores the economic hardships of the Ghanaian farmer.
Speaking to a gathering of farmers and local stakeholders in the Ashanti Region, Adutwum questioned the logic behind the reduction, characterizing it as a policy “disconnected” from the day-to-day struggles of the agricultural sector.
The former Education Minister argued that the cocoa industry relies heavily on the morale and financial stability of the farmers.
By lowering the price paid to producers, he warned that the government is effectively sabotaging its own production targets.
”The price cut risks undermining farmer confidence and could negatively impact production across the board,” Adutwum stated.
“At a time when cocoa farmers are grappling with rising input costs and immense economic pressures, any downward adjustment sends the wrong signal.”
The MP pointed out that the cost of essential farming inputs—such as fertilizers, pesticides, and labor continues to climb.
According to the lawmaker, a reduction in the producer price during such a period creates a “pincer effect” that squeezes the margins of smallholder farmers, potentially driving them toward other crops or illegal mining (galamsey) land sales.
The Minority’s tour aims to highlight the grievances of rural communities and assess the impact of current agricultural policies.
Adutwum’s comments on Day 5 underscore a broader Minority narrative: that the current administration is failing to protect the backbone of Ghana’s economy.
While the government has previously cited global market fluctuations as a reason for price adjustments, Adutwum insisted that the domestic priority must always be the sustainability of the farmer’s livelihood.
By 1960news.com
