
Professor Godfred Alufar Bokpin, a professor of finance and economics at the University of Ghana Business School, has criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their poor management of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
He claimed that through politically motivated pricing regimes and shortsighted policies, successive governments had repeatedly failed farmers, traders, and the country as a whole.
In a recent appearance on JoyNews, Prof. Bokpin said the recent controversy surrounding the newly announced cocoa producer price was only a symptom of a larger issue.
“Both the NPP and NDC owe Ghanaians an apology big time for their handling of the sector,” he asserted, adding that farmers continue to bear the brunt of political expediency.
He clarified that inadequate investment, a lack of transparency, and an unsustainable pricing mechanism that undervalues farmers’ labor have undermined Ghana’s cocoa business, which was once the foundation of the country’s economy.
“We cannot continue like this. Farmers are treated unfairly, promises are made and broken, and the sector is left vulnerable. Both parties have questions to answer, and they must be honest with Ghanaians,” he said.
In order to guarantee that farmers receive just remuneration and Ghana maintains its competitive position internationally, Prof. Bokpin urged a bipartisan approach to cocoa sector reform.
“The industry cannot survive on token increases and political gimmicks. We need a structural overhaul, accountability, and a new vision that treats farmers as true stakeholders,” he urged.
Credit: JoyNews (Multimedia Group)