Dr. John Kingsley Krugu, former Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Zebilla Constituency, has expressed deep disappointment over the recently announced cocoa price increase under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
The new farmgate price for a 64kg bag of cocoa has been raised from GH¢3,100 to GH¢3,228—representing a marginal 4.07% increase. Dr. Krugu described the adjustment as insufficient, unsustainable, and unjust, arguing that it fails to reward the hard work of cocoa farmers and undermines their contributions to Ghana’s economy.
In a post on his official social media account, Dr. Krugu questioned the government’s commitment to its campaign promises.
“How can you increase from 3,100 to just a little over 3,200 cedis per bag? What happened to the promise of GH¢6,000 per bag? This is a ‘settings’ government!” he wrote, referencing a common phrase used to describe inconsistent leadership.
He criticized the 2025 cocoa price in Ghana as failing to reflect rising input costs and warned that the current pricing model could discourage investment in cocoa farming, especially in rural areas.
Dr. Krugu shared a personal account from his farm caretaker in the Western Region, who questioned the value of the new price. “Given current input costs, it’s simply not worth it. We’d be better off handing the land over for mining,” the caretaker reportedly said.
While Dr. Krugu made it clear he did not endorse the idea of switching to illegal mining, he acknowledged that such sentiments may be common among struggling cocoa farmers seeking more profitable alternatives.
He cautioned that without meaningful reforms, the government risks pushing more farmers out of the cocoa sector, thereby deepening rural poverty and threatening the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry—a backbone of the country’s economy.
Dr. Krugu concluded by urging policymakers to listen to the realities on the ground rather than rely solely on economic projections and technical justifications.
“We don’t need a prophet to know that a tough road lies ahead,” he said.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
