Cocoa farmers in Prabon, located in the Afigya Kwabre North District of the Ashanti Region, are reportedly cutting down their cocoa trees to make way for rice cultivation, citing dissatisfaction with the recent cocoa price adjustment.
The farmers argue that the new price of GHC 3,228.75 per bag, representing an increment of just GHC 128.75, falls far short of sustaining their livelihoods. Many had expected a more substantial increase, especially after former President John Mahama, during his 2024 election campaign, promised a price of GHC 6,000 per bag.
Speaking to Adom News, some farmers said rice, maize, and cassava production currently yield higher returns than cocoa. They warned that unless the cocoa price is reviewed upward, more farmers will abandon cocoa cultivation in favour of more profitable ventures.