THE NDC’S FAILURE ON COCOA: GHANA’S FARMERS BLEED WHILE PROMISES TURN TO DUST
Ghana’s cocoa sector, the backbone of our economy and the lifeline of over 800,000 smallholder farmers, is in crisis not because of markets, but because of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) repeated failure to deliver on its commitments and protect the welfare of farmers. The facts are clear: cocoa farmers today are still struggling with delayed, inadequate payments and broken promises, a direct consequence of NDC misgovernance.
In October 2025, the Cocoa Producer Price was adjusted to GH₵3,625 per 64-kg bag (≈ GH₵58,000 per tonne). A response to pressure from farmers and civil society.
Compare this to the NDC’s own loud campaign rhetoric. During the 2024 election season, President John Dramani Mahama publicly pledged to ensure cocoa farmers receive 70 % of the global Free-On-Board (FOB) price for their beans, a promise the party touted as a breakthrough for farmer incomes. Although the NDC promised that cocoa farmers would receive 70% of the global FOB price, this promise has not been delivered in practice. Farmers are still not being paid on time, and the current price does not translate into real cash in their hands. As a result, many cocoa farmers are heavily struggling to finance inputs, hire labour, and plan for the next planting season.
Let the record be clear: the NPP, both in opposition and now by parliamentary pressure, has repeatedly forced the NDC government’s hand to raise cocoa prices and adjust policy. The Minority in Parliament demanded an increase from GH₵3,000 to GH₵6,000 per bag, warning that failure to act would lead to smuggling, economic sabotage, and deepening rural distress. These calls were not heeded swiftly or effectively.
Meanwhile, despite global price drops and market turbulence, other producers like Côte d’Ivoire moved swiftly to support their farmers, even buying unsold stocks to ensure incomes remain viable. Ghana’s leadership under the NDC has been slow, indecisive, and reactive rather than proactive.
The undeniable truth: the NDC does not care enough about Ghanaian cocoa farmers’ welfare, not when their own political survival is at stake. Broken promises, delayed payments, and weak implementation of manifesto pledges are the hallmarks of their approach. The NPP, by contrast, stands for action, honouring commitments, and restoring dignity and prosperity for Ghana’s cocoa producers.
By: Blessing Mantey
