Professor of Finance and Economist at the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Godfred Alufar Bokpin, has criticised both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their poor management of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
He argued that successive governments had consistently failed farmers, traders, and the nation as a whole through short-sighted policies and politically motivated pricing regimes.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Prof. Bokpin said the latest controversy surrounding the newly announced cocoa producer price was only a symptom of a deeper problem.
“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 explained that Ghana’s cocoa industry, once the backbone of the economy, has been weakened by poor investment, lack of transparency, and an unsustainable pricing model that fails to reward the toil of farmers.
“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.
Prof. Bokpin called for a bipartisan approach to reforming the cocoa sector to ensure farmers receive fair compensation and Ghana retains its competitive position globally.
“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.
Source: Ernest Arhinful
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