Richard Antwi, also known as Warrior, a communications team member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ablekuma Central constituency, claims that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is engaging in propaganda by downplaying the significance of the new cocoa price.
He argued that the new cocoa price will be well-received by Ghanaian cocoa farmers, given the government’s track record of showing goodwill towards them.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Richard Antwi, aka Warrior, criticized the cocoa pricing policy of the previous NDC government, describing it as unimpressive and not noteworthy.
‘’ So when members of the NDC come public to claim that we are shortchanging cocoa farmers, it is just propaganda. I don’t understand them. Cocoa farmers are still receiving their fertilizers. Even in the face of the Russian-Ukraine war, the provision of fertilisers for cocoa farmers has been constant.
When you travel to Cote d’ivoire, they don’t have agricultural extension officers, and so they have to pay for such services, but in Ghana here, we are providing these services to farmers for free. Whether the fertiliser is subsidised or not, we are providing it to the farmers constantly,” he said .
He emphasized that the current cocoa pricing is favorable and those alleging that farmers are being shortchanged are spreading misinformation and should be disregarded.
According to Warrior, the NPP’s policies have transformed the cocoa sector, unlike the Mahama administration’s alleged exploitation.
He said farmers are now better off and will continue to see progress.
He asked farmers to be patient, as the government strives to achieve their requested GHC 6,000 price increase.
‘’That is the vision of this government. For a government that has increased the price of the 64-kg bag from Ghc 400 and something to Ghc 3,000 within a space of seven years is a government you can trust. I am believing that by next year, we will see these things manifest, and cocoa farmers will be extra happy,’’ he told host Kwabena Agyapong.
He urged cocoa farmers to reject Mahama in the next election, warning that his return to power would undermine the progress made in the cocoa sector and reverse the gains achieved during Akufo-Addo’s tenure.
