Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to seek guidance from former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on managing the economy, particularly in the wake of mounting concerns over the cocoa sector and the country’s broader economic challenges.
Speaking during an evening engagement with cocoa farmers in the Bekwai District as part of the Minority Caucus’ ongoing tour of cocoa-growing areas in the Ashanti Region, Annoh-Dompreh criticised what he described as the government’s inability to effectively manage the economy within a relatively short period in office.
He contrasted this with the Akufo-Addo administration, which he said was able to sustain the economy, pay workers, and maintain essential services such as electricity and water supply even during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Minority Chief Whip, it would not be out of place for President Mahama to consult his predecessor for advice on governance, insisting that leadership should prioritise results over pride.
“It is not a shame to seek advice,” he told the gathering, adding that Ghana’s current economic situation demands pragmatic leadership and collaboration.
His comments come at a time when the Minority has intensified its criticism of the government over developments in the cocoa sector, particularly the reduction in cocoa producer prices—widely described by the opposition as “haircuts”—and delays in releasing funds to purchasing clerks to buy cocoa from farmers.
The Minority argues that these challenges are worsening the plight of cocoa farmers, many of whom depend on the crop as their primary source of livelihood.
Annoh-Dompreh further accused the government of failing to prioritise the needs of farmers, warning that the opposition would continue to speak out until corrective measures are taken. He assured farmers that the Minority would not relent in its efforts to demand a reversal of the price cuts and ensure that farmers receive the payments owed to them.
“We will continue to speak for the ordinary farmer,” he declared, emphasizing that the Minority’s engagement with cocoa farmers is aimed at amplifying their concerns in the Parliament of Ghana and pushing for policy reforms that will protect the sector.
The Bekwai engagement forms part of a broader nationwide outreach by the Minority Caucus, which began in the Eastern Region and has now moved to the Ashanti Region.
The tour involves direct interaction with cocoa farmers in their communities—sometimes late into the evening—to gather firsthand accounts of the challenges they face, including declining incomes, rising input costs, and delays in payments.
Annoh-Dompreh also criticised the government’s spending priorities, calling on President Mahama to return what he described as “luxury jets” reportedly acquired by the state and redirect the funds to support struggling cocoa farmers.
He argued that such expenditures are difficult to justify at a time when farmers are facing financial hardship.
Ghana remains the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa, and the sector plays a critical role in the country’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and rural livelihoods.
However, ongoing concerns about pricing, funding, and policy direction have heightened political debate over how best to sustain the industry.