The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has called on the government to immediately restore Ghana’s cocoa producer price to its original value of GH¢3,625 per 64-kilogram bag.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament, the Minority Leader urged authorities to reverse the recent adjustment to the producer price and reinstate the previous rate without delay.

He argued that cocoa farmers across the country had structured their production and financial commitments around the announced price and should not be made to bear losses resulting from policy changes.

Afenyo-Markin further demanded that the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board compensate farmers and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) for any financial shortfalls incurred following the recent announcement.

According to him, any reduction or alteration in the producer price after it had been publicly communicated undermines confidence in the sector and places an unfair burden on farmers, who already face rising input costs and operational challenges.

He stressed that cocoa remains a backbone of Ghana’s economy and a critical source of livelihood for thousands of households, and therefore decisions affecting the sector must prioritize the welfare of producers.

The Minority Leader’s statement has intensified discussions in Parliament, with stakeholders expected to closely monitor government’s response to the call for restoration of the price and payment of outstanding differences.