Afriyie Claims Broader Benefits Outweigh NPP’s Increase
On August 4, 2025, the NDC government raised the cocoa farmgate price from GHS3,100 to GHS3,128 per bag, a GHS128 increase. Afadjato South MP Frank Afriyie, speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily, defended the hike, arguing it surpasses the NPP’s 2024 GHS1,030 increase (from GHS2,070 to GHS3,100) due to economic relief measures.
Afriyie addressed NDC’s earlier criticism of the NPP’s hike, which demanded GHS5,000 per bag, stating the GHS128 increment holds more value when paired with policies like the enhanced Free SHS program. The government has resolved feeding issues and introduced free first-year tertiary education for cocoa farmers’ children, easing financial burdens.
The MP emphasized that farmers now benefit from a stable cedi and don’t face dollar-based expenses for education, unlike under the NPP. These measures, he argued, make the smaller price increase more impactful, supporting over 800,000 cocoa-farming households reliant on the crop for 30% of Ghana’s export revenue.
The cocoa sector, hit by a 45% production drop in 2024 due to galamsey and disease, faces ongoing scrutiny. The NDC’s policies aim to stabilize farmers’ livelihoods, with COCOBOD allocating GHS2 billion for farmer support in 2025, including subsidies for fertilizers and seedlings to boost yields.
Critics, including COCOBOD’s former CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo, argue the GHS128 increase falls short of expectations, given global cocoa prices hit $8,000 per ton in 2025. Afriyie’s defense underscores the NDC’s focus on holistic farmer welfare to sustain the industry.