The Secretary of the Forum for Accountability and Development of Sefwi, Simon Asafo Adjei, has accused both the government and the opposition of shifting blame over the recent reduction in cocoa prices, insisting that the issue is a social and economic concern rather than a political one.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Asafo Adjei said cocoa farmers in the Western North Region are demanding a reversal of the new pricing, which saw the price per bag drop from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587.

“The government and opposition are trying to shift blame in terms of cocoa pricing. The issue is not about politics. It’s a social contract between the government and us,” he stated.

He argued that farmers have consistently made sacrifices over the years and questioned why they should bear the brunt of global price reductions.

He also raised concerns about what he described as comparatively low producer prices and disparities in cost-cutting measures within the cocoa sector.

According to Mr. Asafo Adjei, the protest staged by farmers is not “petty politicking” but a legitimate call for the government to withdraw the new cocoa pricing and protect farmers’ livelihoods.

“As citizens who have sacrificed for decades, what do we truly gain from the state? This protest is not trivial politicking; the government must listen to our demands. We call on the government to withdraw the new cocoa pricing. It is evident that the existing social contract benefits the government, but if they truly wish to support farmers, they need to be consistent and fair in their commitments,” he said.

Cocoa farmers in the Western North Region staged the demonstration to press home their demands, urging government to act swiftly and ensure fair treatment for the farming community.