Former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini has called on the government to put stronger measures in place to protect cocoa production, following protests by farmers in the Western North Region over the recent cut in the cocoa producer price.
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, farmers from areas including Sefwi Wiawso, Juaboso, and Bia West poured onto the streets, holding placards that read “Restore Our Price Now” and “Cocoa Sustains Ghana, Don’t Neglect Farmers.”
The farmers criticised the reduction from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogram bag, describing the move as unfair. According to them, rising costs for labour, fertiliser, and transportation mean the new price barely covers their production expenses.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, February 21, Fuseini acknowledged the government’s plans to expand cocoa processing but stressed that such ambitions can only succeed if there is a reliable supply of cocoa beans.
“His Excellency the President is saying we want to process our cocoa, but we must first have cocoa beans before we can even process them,” he noted.
Fuseini also pointed to Ghana’s past difficulties in meeting export commitments, arguing that the country cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes.
“What we have seen in the past is that we have not even been able to fulfil contracts for export that we have entered into,” he said. “We must put systems in place to guarantee at least a minimum level of cocoa production. If we are talking about processing 50% of our cocoa beans locally, then production must be secure. We should not be depending on gambling or guesswork in this reform exercise.”