The General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has called on the government to implement policies that will enable Ghana to exercise greater control over its cocoa industry and reduce its dependence on foreign buyers.
Speaking on Yepe Ahunu, a political talk show on Ahotor 92.3 FM hosted by Alexander Nana Dogbe, Mr. Koomson said Ghana must take deliberate steps to strengthen its cocoa value chain by reviving the Cocoa Buying Company (CBC) and investing more in local processing.
According to him, cocoa remains one of Ghana’s most valuable economic resources, yet prices paid to farmers continue to be influenced largely by external market forces.
“We should not allow foreigners to dictate cocoa prices for us. Cocoa farming is hard work, and our farmers deserve fair value for their produce,” he said.
Mr. Koomson argued that reviving the Cocoa Buying Company would enable Ghana to purchase a greater share of its cocoa production, reduce reliance on foreign companies and improve returns for cocoa farmers.
He maintained that strengthening the state-owned company would also give the country greater influence over the cocoa value chain while safeguarding the interests of local producers.
The GFL General Secretary further urged the government to accelerate investment in the manufacturing sector, particularly in cocoa processing, to ensure that more cocoa beans are processed locally into finished products before export.
According to him, expanding domestic processing capacity would create employment opportunities, increase export earnings and enable Ghana to retain more value from its cocoa industry.
“We depend too much on other countries for our survival. If we expand our manufacturing capacity and process our own cocoa, we will create jobs, increase export earnings and retain more value within the country,” he stated.
Mr. Koomson stressed that industrialisation and value addition are key to building a resilient economy, reducing dependence on imports and improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and workers across the country.
He called on the government to prioritise investments that will strengthen Ghana’s cocoa sector and ensure that farmers receive fair returns for their contribution to the country’s economy.
Story by Stephen Owusu Mintah