Thursday, 05 March

Minority’s cocoa protest is political noise – Ho Central MP fires back

Politics
Richmond Kofi Edem Kpotosu

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central, Richmond Kofi Edem Kpotosu, has dismissed concerns raised by the Minority over cocoa prices, describing their recent protest in Parliament as mere political noise intended to create unnecessary tension.

Speaking to Class Mesia Group (CMG) parliamentary correspondent Gordon Desmond Sackitey, the Ho Central legislator accused the Minority of attempting to mislead the public by portraying cocoa farmers as dissatisfied with the government’s decision to reduce the producer price.

According to him, the demonstration staged by the Minority was politically motivated and did not reflect the true sentiments of genuine cocoa farmers across the country.

Kpotosu alleged that some of the individuals presented as cocoa farmers during the protest were mobilised simply to create chaos and give the impression that farmers are unhappy with the government’s decision.

He explained that the price adjustment was influenced by developments on the international cocoa market and not a deliberate attempt by the government to disadvantage farmers.

The MP stressed that the Ghana Cocoa Board had to align its pricing decisions with prevailing global market conditions in order to protect the sustainability of the sector.

Kpotosu further stated that while the government understands the concerns of farmers, it remains focused on managing the industry responsibly and will not be distracted by what he described as political theatrics from the Minority.

He maintained that many genuine cocoa farmers appreciate the difficult market conditions and continue to support the government’s efforts to stabilise the sector.

The Ho Central lawmaker also assured that the government remains committed to improving the welfare of cocoa farmers and will honour its pledge to ensure that farmers receive up to 70 percent of the international market price once global cocoa prices recover.

His comments come amid ongoing debate in Parliament over cocoa sector policies, with the Minority pressing the government to reconsider recent price adjustments and take further steps to cushion farmers.

Source: classfmonline.com/Gordon Sackitey