The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western North Region has expressed grave concern over the silence of the eight National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament from the region, regarding the recent reduction of the cocoa price.

In a statement issued by Mr Felix Foster Ackah, the Regional Secretary, described the MPs’ silence as “regrettable and worrying,” noting that cocoa farming was not just an occupation but the economic lifeline of the people.

The party believed that any reduction in the farm gate price would directly affect the income, survival, and dignity of thousands of hardworking farmers and their families.

The NPP is also concerned about discussions surrounding reforms that could weaken the guaranteed pricing model, championed by the NDC MPs in the region.

“Any move towards deregulation without strong safeguards could expose farmers to dangerous international market volatility,” the statement said.

The party is therefore “calling on the NDC MPs to render an unqualified apology to the inhabitants of the region for betraying their trust during these hard times”.

It also wants the government to review the price and urged stakeholders to protect the guaranteed pricing system rather than pursue a deregulation system that could eradicate the current framework.

The statement further assured all cocoa farmers in the region and in Ghana that the party would continue to advocate policies that protected their incomes, stabilised pricing, and secured their futures.

The NPP in the Western North Region said it stands firmly with cocoa farmers; their sweat sustains Ghana’s economy, and their sacrifices must be rewarded with certainty.