The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of short-changing cocoa farmers by increasing the price of a bag of cocoa to GHC1,300.

According to the Minority caucus, cocoa farmers should have been given at least GHC2,500 per bag. The Deputy Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee of Parliament, Eric Opoku, slammed the government for giving cocoa farmers “peanuts”.

He expressed worry over the price given to cocoa farmers, stressing that this season is a good year for cocoa farmers to benefit from their produce.

“We sell cocoa on the international market, so it is not the president who decides he will give cocoa farmers the prices he wants. His ability to determine the price depends on what prevails in the international market. If at any point in time, the market is favourable, cocoa farmers must also be given the opportunity to enjoy it. This is a good year for cocoa farmers all over the world. This year, cocoa prices have surged to historical heights. And so this is an opportunity for cocoa farmers to enjoy.

“Unfortunately, the government is giving them a price far below what is prevailing in the international market. And so some of us became worried. Why is it that we have this high price and then our cocoa farmers are being given just peanuts? This is not what is happening in the international market. Cocoa farmers should be given something close to GHC2,500 minus the premium. That is why we are saying this government is short-changing the cocoa farmers.”

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) on Tuesday lashed out at former President John Dramani Mahama for criticizing the government’s decision to increase the price of cocoa.

In a statement, COCOBOD CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo said that Mahama should be familiar with the process for determining the producer price of cocoa.

The former president John Dramani Mahama described the government as “insensitive” to the plight of farmers, saying that the increase was not enough.

The government has defended its decision to increase the price of cocoa to GHC1,300, saying that it is based on a number of factors, including the international market price of cocoa, the cost of production, and the need to maintain a competitive advantage for Ghanaian cocoa.

A Swiss-Ghanaian cocoa social enterprise Koa, has taken the next step to scale its impact in the cocoa sector.

The company on Saturday, August 25, 2023, inaugurated its second cocoa fruit factory in Akim Achiase, in the Eastern Region of Ghana, together with 600 guests, the Ministry of Trade & Industry and the Embassy of Switzerland.

The new facility will allow Koa to scale its production capabilities tenfold thereby allowing the company to cooperate with an additional 10,000 cocoa smallholders in Ghana.

Koa is disrupting the cocoa industry through its innovative up-cycling of the cocoa fruit. The independent Ghanaian-Swiss company is the first company in West Africa to have unlocked a new value chain around the so far discarded cocoa pulp.

Working closely with cocoa smallholders, Koa reduces on-farm food waste around the cocoa fruit and increases cocoa farmers’ income while at the same time bringing unique new ingredients to the gastronomy and food and beverage industry for applications ranging from chocolate, confectionery, ice cream to drinks in Ghana and abroad.

Since its foundation in 2017, Koa has up-cycled 800 tons of cocoa fruit that were until then, overlooked in the cocoa industry.

2,200 cocoa farmers benefitted within the first five years, earning a total of GHS 2.3 million (USD 300,000).

The inauguration of the cocoa fruit factory in Akim Achiase on Friday, 25 August 2023, marked the beginning of a new era for Koa, as it expands its reach and impact.

It highlights the contribution of the company towards sustainable growth in rural Ghana and making a positive impact on the cocoa industry.

Distinguished guests, including Hon. Kobina Tahir Hammond, Minister of Trade & Industry of Ghana; Daasebre Nana Gyenin Kantan IV, Nifa Hene of Akyim Abuakwa Traditional Council; and Dr. Simone Haeberli, Deputy Head of Mission & Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, Togo and Benin, graced the occasion in Akim Achiase.

Their participation signifies the importance of this milestone for Ghana and the cocoa industry.

In his welcome address, Koa’s Managing Director and Co-Founder, Anian Schreiber, highlighted how the new factory serves as a milestone in the company’s ambition to positively transform the cocoa value chain.

“By supplying products for both the domestic and international market, we will add value to the farmers, the communities and all people who work around here. This factory will connect Achiase and Ghana to the world”, Anian Schreiber said.

Daniel Otu, Production & Operations Director at Koa, explained that “the new factory will allow the company to grow in line with the demand from its customers.

The factory will generate 250 new jobs in rural Ghana, and allow us to extend our cocoa fruit upcycling to an additional 10,000 cocoa farmers” he noted.

About Koa

The Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa transforms the cocoa industry by upcycling parts of the cocoa fruit that are usually overlooked. With a mission to empower farmers to earn additional income and make a positive impact on the planet, Koa is redefining sustainability and social responsibility in the industry.

 As a certified B Corp™, the company integrates its mission into all business activities, focusing on the Triple Bottom Line: ‘People, Planet and Profit’.

Today, 100 employees in Ghana and Switzerland dedicate themselves to making an impact by creating ingredients for gastronomy and the food and beverage industry. www.koa-impact.com.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has denied publications that it has entered into an agreement with a third party for the importation of large quantities of pork from the United States.  

The Ministry in a statement explained that, the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) of  the ministry  rather requested from veterinary medical officers in the USA for certification for meat and poultry healthiness intended to be exported to Ghana.

“MoFA categorically denies the validity of the allegation as it has not signed any such agreement with any party. For clarity, the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) of MoFA has on record, a request from Dr. Charmaine McJee, Veterinary Medical Officer, Export Development of FSISUSDA, Washington for Certification for Meat and Poultry Wholesomeness intended to be exported to Ghana which was granted following laboratory analysis of samples”,  the statement said.

The statement added that it is an obligation of VSD to render the requested services professionally in accordance with ethics of the Organization of World Animal Health for which Ghana is a Member.

“Rather unfortunately, the VSD legal mandate has been misconstrued. We therefore take this opportunity to assure the general public that, no agreement has been signed between the Ministry and any party for the unbridled importation of pork to flood the Ghanaian market”.MoFA assured that it will never undermine the efforts and narrow market opportunities of the Ghanaian pig farmer.