The silence in Ghana’s cocoa communities is not calm — it is disappointment.
In 2024, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), then in opposition, mounted platforms across the country and declared that cocoa farmers were being cheated. They promised bold action. They promised fairness. They promised GH₵6,500 per bag.
Today, in government, they have delivered GH₵2,587 per bag.
This is not just a policy adjustment. It is a political reversal of staggering proportions.
A Campaign Built on Accusations
The NDC accused the previous government of exploiting cocoa farmers. They argued that global prices justified far higher payments. They presented themselves as the saviors of the rural farmer — the defenders of the backbone of Ghana’s economy.
But now, under President John Dramani Mahama and Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the producer price has been slashed from GH₵3,600 to GH₵2,587.
The same party that promised an increase has delivered a drastic reduction.
The Global Market Excuse
Government now points to falling international cocoa prices and says the new price reflects 90% of a USD 4,200 per tonne FOB price.
But this raises uncomfortable questions:
Did global market realities not exist in 2024 when GH₵6,500 was promised?
Were those campaign figures based on sound economic projections — or pure political opportunism?
Were farmers misled for electoral gain?
It cannot be that market forces are suddenly relevant only when in government.
The Human Cost
Behind these figures are real people:
Farmers struggling with rising fertilizer costs.
Households battling inflation.
Young people abandoning cocoa farming because it no longer pays.
Reducing the farm-gate price at a time of economic hardship sends a chilling message to rural Ghana: campaign promises are negotiable, but your suffering is not.
A Dangerous Political Gamble
Cocoa-producing regions are not just economic hubs — they are political strongholds. History shows that cocoa pricing has shaped electoral fortunes.
If farmers begin to feel betrayed, the political consequences could be severe.
Trust, once broken, is difficult to restore.
Leadership or Rhetoric?
Dr. Forson argues the decision ensures liquidity and sustainability. That may be economically defensible. But leadership demands more than technical explanations — it demands consistency and honesty.
If GH₵6,500 was unrealistic, Ghanaians deserve an admission. If circumstances have changed, Ghanaians deserve transparency. If COCOBOD faces deeper structural problems, Ghanaians deserve reform.
What they do not deserve is silence about yesterday’s promises.
The Verdict
This moment will define the Mahama administration’s credibility with rural voters.
Was GH₵6,500 a genuine policy vision? Or was it merely a campaign slogan designed to win votes?
Ghana’s cocoa farmers are watching.
And this time, they may remember.
Editorial:From GH₵6,500 Promise to GH₵2,587 Reality-A Betrayal of Ghana’s Cocoa Farmers
