Awo Kekeli, a member of the NDC communications team, has outlined measures by the government to support cocoa farmers amid the recent reduction in producer prices.
Speaking in an interview with Lily Mohammed on GHOne TV’s GHToday on February 18, 2026, Kekeli said the reintroduction of cocoa scholarships and increased farmer participation in COCOBOD are central to easing the burden on farming families.
“The scholarship was taken away then by the NPP. Now we restored it,” she said. “We are going to make sure that they are going to get their scholarships back.”
She added that while first-year tertiary students are already benefiting, subsequent years will also be supported. “How are they going to pay? The same cocoa money,” Kekeli noted, emphasizing that scholarships will help farmers provide for their children’s education.
Kekeli also revealed that farmers are being offered 90 percent shares in COCOBOD. “If you want to buy a share in COCOBOD, you have 90 percent. Is it not a good offer?” she asked.
She further explained that the government is maintaining the policy of giving farmers 70 percent of the world market price, with the remaining 30 percent allocated for administrative and operational costs.
“The 30 percent we know what we use it for… so that it’s not another burden on the cocoa farmer,” she said.
Addressing concerns about cocoa smuggling, Kekeli noted that keeping high prices in Ghana could attract beans from neighbouring countries.
“If we maintain a certain price, by the time we realise Togo will be bringing their cocoa here, Ivory Coast will be bringing it,” she warned.
She concluded by acknowledging the difficulties in balancing farmer welfare with market realities. “When it is wrong, it is wrong. But this is something we have to face and take difficult decisions,” she said.
Source: Starrfm.comgh/Abigail Praise Pabai
