Addressing a charged gathering of farmers, Dr. Otukonor did not mince words. He argued that despite repeated assurances and policy promises, cocoa farmers have not always received a fair share of the international cocoa price.
According to him, the 30 percent ceiling represents a missed opportunity to significantly improve livelihoods in cocoa-growing communities.
He stressed that cocoa farmers remain the backbone of Ghana’s economy and deserve better compensation, especially at a time when global cocoa prices have seen substantial increases.
“When prices rise on the international market, the farmer must feel it directly,” he reportedly emphasized, drawing applause from sections of the crowd.
Pokukrom, a community heavily dependent on cocoa farming, has in recent years faced concerns over declining yields, rising input costs, and delayed payments.
Farmers who attended the engagement expressed frustration over increasing production expenses, including fertilizers, labor, and transportation, which continue to eat into their profits.
Dr. Otukonor’s comments are likely to intensify the political debate over cocoa pricing and farmer welfare.
With cocoa playing a critical role in Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings, the issue of how much farmers receive remains politically sensitive and economically significant.
As conversations around agricultural reform gain momentum, many farmers say they are less interested in political back-and-forth and more focused on one key question: When global cocoa prices rise, will their earnings finally reflect it? The debate is far from over but one thing is clear, cocoa farmers are demanding ananswers.