Minority Chief Whip in Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has questioned whether President John Dramani Mahama would have reduced cocoa prices if this were an election year, suggesting the decision may be politically influenced.
Speaking on Tuesday, April 7, during the Minority caucus’s tour of the Bono Region, Mr Annoh-Dompreh highlighted the recent drop in cocoa prices and raised concerns about the timing of the move.
“Would Mahama have reduced cocoa prices if this year were an election year? He thinks he can punish cocoa farmers during this period and when the election year comes, he gives them some small money to lure them to vote for his party,” he said.
The Minority Chief Whip further alleged that the President intends to increase cocoa prices during an election year to curry favor with farmers, portraying the pricing adjustments as a potential political strategy.
“This is about fairness and respect for the backbone of our economy. Cocoa farmers should not be subjected to arbitrary pricing that is driven by political calculations,” Mr. Annoh-Dompreh added.
The Minority caucus toured the Bono Region to meet directly with farmers affected by the recent cocoa price changes and to assess how the adjustments are impacting their livelihoods.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh urged the government to implement clear and consistent cocoa pricing policies to shield farmers from what he described as politically motivated economic decisions.
