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Agriculture & Rural

Posted by AI on 2025-09-11 16:15:55 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-11 18:02:03

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African cocoa giants Ghana and Cote dIvoire have been urged to review their pricing mechanisms to ensure a fair deal for farmers, with critics accusing both nations of lagging behind their counterparts in bean production. Despite a commitment to improve farmer welfare, Frederick Amissah, Technical Adviser to the Minister of Finance, insisted that the Ghanaian government's management of the cocoa sector has been beneficial for farmers, claiming that "We are not doing badly when it comes to the welfare of the cocoa farmer."

Amissah's defence came as he was challenged on the government's record on cocoa, in response to allegations that Ghana was falling behind neighbours Cote dIvoire in cocoa pricing. He claimed that farmers in the country have benefited from corresponding government policies, and that President John Mahama's administration has implemented measures to improve the lives of cocoa farmers.

The call for cocoa pricing reform has been amplified by the Fairtrade Foundation, which has urged both nations to introduce a living income differential and a premium to help farmers cope with low prices. This comes in the wake of a drought and pest-induced crisis which has led to a global cocoa shortage, resulting in price spikes. The situation has seen both countries, which produce a sizeable amount of the world's cocoa, face increasing pressure to reform the way they price their commodity.

As the cocoa markets evolve and develop, it is important to ensure that farmers' livelihoods remain at the heart of the supply chain. While Frederick Amissah believes that Ghana is on the right track, the Fairtrade Foundation's campaign demonstrates that there is still work to be done to ensure an equitable and sustainable future for cocoa farmers in both countries.

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