TEMA, Ghana, 29th August: Abraham Koomson, the Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), has welcomed the newly enacted Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026, describing it as a major victory for cocoa farmers.
He said the new law would protect farmers by legally guaranteeing them at least 70 per cent of the gross Free-on-Board (FOB) global market price realised for their cocoa beans.
According to him, the legislation would prevent future governments from arbitrarily reducing the share of the world market price paid to cocoa farmers.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, August 29, 2026, Mr Koomson said the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026, also establishes a contributory pension scheme for cocoa farmers and an educational trust fund to support farmers and their children.
He said the legislation further provides stronger protection for cocoa lands against destruction and includes severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, for illegal mining activities that destroy cocoa farms.
Mr Koomson said the reforms contained in the new Act would provide greater security and long-term benefits for cocoa farmers while protecting the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
He also defended the newly enacted Tribunals Act, 2026, insisting that there was nothing wrong with the establishment of regional tribunals as provided for under the law.
According to him, people who are not engaged in criminal or illegal activities should have nothing to fear from the legislation.
“There is nothing wrong with the Tribunals Act. If you are not engaged in any illegal activity, you should have nothing to fear,” he said.
Mr Koomson questioned the opposition to the Act by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Minority in Parliament, alleging that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could be behind the opposition being expressed against the legislation by the labour union.
His comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s assent to 10 Bills passed by Parliament, bringing them into law as part of his administration’s ongoing legislative and policy reforms.
The new laws cover a wide range of areas, including customs administration, taxation, energy, cocoa, maritime offences, national defence and the administration of justice.
The Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026, is among the key pieces of legislation signed into law by President Mahama.
The President said the law incorporates major reforms aimed at ensuring that at least 50 per cent of Ghana’s cocoa beans are processed locally while guaranteeing cocoa farmers 70 per cent of the world market price.
“Promise made, promise fulfilled,” President Mahama said after signing the legislation into law.
The Tribunals Act, 2026, also gives effect to constitutional provisions for regional tribunals, empowering the Chief Justice to establish tribunals in the regions to deal with specified categories of offences.
Other legislation assented to by the President includes the Community Service Act, 2026, which provides for non-custodial sentences for misdemeanours and other minor offences; the Customs Act, 2026, which consolidates various Customs laws; and the Income Tax Amendment Act, 2026, which exempts workers earning the minimum wage or below from paying income tax.
The new laws also include the Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026; the National Defence University Act, 2026; the Energy Sector Levies Amendment Act, 2026; the Value Added Tax Amendment Bill, 2026; and the Excise Act, 2026.
Mr Koomson’s comments add to the growing public debate surrounding the new legislation, particularly the Ghana Cocoa Board Act and the Tribunals Act, which have generated strong reactions from various groups.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭