Member of Parliament Nana Ayew Afriye has criticised government’s decision to reduce cocoa prices
The Member of Parliament for Effiduasi Asokore, Nana Ayew Afriye, has strongly criticised what he describes as the unfair treatment being meted out to cocoa farmers following the recent reduction in cocoa prices.
Contributing to the debate on the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, Dr Afriye lamented that the decision to cut cocoa prices amounts to what he described as “the robbery of poor farmers,” many of whom are already struggling with poverty.
According to the Effiduasi Asokore legislator, cocoa farmers continue to bear the brunt of economic decisions despite their immense contribution to Ghana’s economy.
“To reduce cocoa prices at a time when farmers are already wallowing in poverty is inhumane and amounts to robbing the very people whose sweat built the cocoa industry,” he said.
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Dr Afriye noted that the issue is particularly personal to him because of the historic role his great-grandfather, John Kwame Ayew, played in the early development of the cocoa industry in the then Gold Coast.
Historical records show that John Kwame Ayew, who hailed from Mampong Akuapim, was one of the leading figures in the early struggles of cocoa farmers during the colonial era.
He emerged as one of the “firebrands” who mobilised farmers to resist exploitative practices by foreign trading firms that dominated the cocoa market at the time.
Following the World War I, Ayew organised and spearheaded several cocoa hold-ups and boycotts between 1920–1921 and 1930–1931 in major cocoa-producing areas including Larteh, Dodowa, Akuapem and Akyem Abuakwa.
These actions were intended to protest the unfair pricing structures imposed by foreign trading companies operating in the colony.
He also founded the Gold Coast Cocoa Farmers’ Association, which became an important platform for organising farmers and coordinating resistance against exploitative cocoa marketing systems.
The agitation led by Ayew and other activists was largely directed at the dominance of multinational trading firms such as the United Africa Company and the Société Commerciale de l’Ouest Africain, which controlled cocoa pricing and marketing in the Gold Coast.
Beyond activism, John Kwame Ayew was also actively engaged in cocoa marketing himself, demonstrating both economic and political leadership within the industry.
He worked alongside other prominent cocoa activists such as Winifred Tetteh Ansah of Manya Krobo to champion the cause of cocoa farmers.
Dr. Afriye told Parliament that given his great grandfather’s legacy in defending the rights and welfare of cocoa farmers, he believes John Kwame Ayew would be deeply disappointed by what he described as the current mistreatment of cocoa farmers.
According to him, the sacrifices of early cocoa pioneers who fought against colonial exploitation should serve as a reminder to policymakers to protect the livelihoods of farmers rather than undermine them.
“My great grandfather fought to defend cocoa farmers from exploitation. If he were alive today, he would be deeply saddened that the very farmers he struggled for are still facing hardship and unfair treatment,” Dr. Afriye stated.
He therefore called on government to reconsider policies affecting cocoa farmers and ensure that pricing decisions reflect fairness and respect for the vital role farmers play in sustaining Ghana’s cocoa industry.
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