The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate dismissal of Dr. Randy Abbey, CEO of COCOBOD. This follows the
government's announcement on Thursday, February 12, to reduce the cocoa producer price from GHS 3,625 to GHS 2,587 per 64kg bag—a 28.6% "haircut."
The Minority’s Case: "A Heartless Assault"
Addressing a press conference at Parliament House, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (Ranking Member on the Economy and Development Committee) and Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku (Ranking Member on Food and Agriculture) slammed the reduction as unprecedented and detrimental.
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Gross Incompetence: The Minority claims that Dr. Randy Abbey—a media and football administrator—is unfit to manage the complexities of the cocoa sector.
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Political Betrayal: They cited the NDC's 2024 campaign promise to pay farmers at least GHS 6,000 per bag, arguing that the current GHS 2,587 price is a "monumental betrayal" of the rural electorate.
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Call for Pay Cuts: In a provocative demand, the Minority suggested that if farmers are suffering a 30% cut, the salaries and allowances of the COCOBOD CEO and all public sector workers should be slashed by the same margin.
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Threat of Protests: The Minority warned they are ready to join cocoa farmers on the streets if the price is not restored to the previous GHS 3,625 level.
"If the cocoa farmer's price is going to be reduced by almost 30 per cent, then everybody's pay in this country should also be slashed by that margin." — Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku
The Government's Defense: Stabilizing a Sinking Ship
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson defended the price adjustment as a necessary, albeit painful, move to save COCOBOD from total collapse.
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Global Market Slump: The world market price has plummeted from $7,200/tonne to $4,100/tonne, making it impossible to sustain the higher farmgate price.
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Liquidity Injection: The reduction is part of a plan to ensure COCOBOD has the liquidity to pay off arrears immediately, rather than keeping prices high on paper while farmers remain unpaid.
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Sustainability: The government argues this adjustment is the only way to ensure the industry remains viable until the "Cocoa Bond" and local processing reforms take full effect.
The "Good Governance" Petition
The Minority’s demand aligns with a formal petition filed on Monday, February 9, 2026, by the Good Governance Advocacy Group Ghana. The petition urged President Mahama to sack Dr. Abbey, citing:
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Arrogance and Intimidation: Allegations of an abusive leadership style within COCOBOD.
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Financial Mismanagement: Concerns over "questionable renovations" and misaligned priorities during a liquidity crisis.
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Resistance to Reform: Claims that the current leadership is obstructing technical initiatives intended to boost productivity.
Comparison of the Cocoa Price Change
| Date | Price per Bag (64kg) | Change | Reason Cited |
| Jan 2026 | GHS 3,625 | — | 2024/25 Season Price |
| Feb 12, 2026 | GHS 2,587 | - 28.6% | Market Slump / Liquidity |
The Bottom Line
The cocoa sector has become the primary political battleground of 2026. While the government maintains it is performing a "responsible reset" to save the economy, the opposition sees an opportunity to champion the grievances of over one million farmers. All eyes are now on President Mahama in Addis Ababa—will he stick with his appointee, or will the "Addis Reckoning" extend to a leadership shake-up at COCOBOD?
