The Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama for what he describes as his government’s poor handling of the cocoa business in Ghana and has urged him to seek guidance from the former president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Speaking during a Minority Caucus engagement with cocoa farmers in the village of Asunsu No 1 in Dormaa Central (Bono Region), Annoh-Dompreh said the current administration’s approach to managing the cocoa business has fallen short of expectations despite President Mahama having so much experience in governance.

“It is not too late for President Mahama to consult former President Akufo-Addo on how to manage cocoa-related issues,” Annoh-Dompreh however said, drawing a comparison between the two governments’ handling of global cocoa price fluctuations.

According to him, although international cocoa prices experienced downturns under President Akufo-Addo, the previous administration maintained producer prices as a sign of commitment to farmer welfare.

Annoh-Dompreh further accused the governing National Democratic Congress of failing to adopt lessons from the governance approach of the New Patriotic Party, engaging instead in political attacks.

“The NDC should be learning from the NPP’s governance record, not engaging in insults,” he said, adding that the Minority Caucus would intensify its outreach to cocoa-growing communities to highlight what it described as the negative impact of current policies on farmers’ livelihoods.

In a related development, the MP for Kwabre East, Akwasi Gyamfi Onyina-Acheampong, assured farmers of the Minority’s commitment to holding the government accountable for its financial obligations to actors in the cocoa industry.

He also urged the farmers not to be swayed by what he described as politically motivated promises, warning that a better cocoa producer price could be announced close to major elections as a strategy to win their support.

“They may offer better prices when elections approach, but farmers must remain vigilant and not be swayed by short-term promises,” Onyina-Acheampong said.

The engagement was one in a series in the Minority Caucus tour of cocoa-growing communities, as political debate intensifies over the future of cocoa farming in Ghana and the welfare of those who depend on it.

Report for Asaase News by Daniel Donkor (Bono Region)