Thursday, 12 February

Dr Randy Abbey: Minority calls for removal of COCOBOD CEO over cocoa 'crisis', price cut

News
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (MP)

The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to remove the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, over what it describes as a worsening crisis in the cocoa sector.

According to the Minority, the recent reduction in the cocoa producer price poses serious risks to cocoa farmers and their households.

They argue that the price cut — estimated at about 28.6 percent — will negatively impact the livelihoods of more than one million cocoa farmers across the country.

Addressing the press in parliament on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, strongly criticised the government’s decision.

His comments come in the wake of the government’s announcement of a revised cocoa producer price of ¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to ¢2,587 per 64-kilogramme bag, for the remainder of the 2025–2026 cocoa season.

The new price takes effect from Thursday, February 12.

The revised figure represents a sharp reduction from the earlier price of ¢51,660 per tonne, which was announced at the beginning of the crop season.

Earlier, the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, explained that the downward adjustment was necessitated by developments in the global cocoa market.

He said the decision was intended to stabilise the cocoa sector, rebuild confidence, and ensure prompt payment to farmers.

Source: classfmonline.com/Zita Okwang