Ghana Catholic Bishops highlights moral duty to protect cocoa farmers

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged the government to take immediate steps to safeguard cocoa farmers amid mounting economic pressures.

In a statement, the bishops expressed deep concern over delayed payments, declining producer prices, and the hardships faced by rural communities reliant on cocoa farming.

“During years of windfall gains, producer prices were not raised proportionately. Farmers should not bear the full burden of systemic and historical failures,” the statement said.

The Conference called for stabilising producer prices and using accumulated surpluses to cushion farmers, while also advocating a depoliticised national dialogue focused on farmers’ welfare and the sector’s long-term sustainability.

The bishops warned that Ghana risks losing its competitive position in the global cocoa market. “Ecuador is on course to overtake Ghana as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, while Nigeria and Cameroon threaten to form a powerful third force. These shifts, alongside climate stress and land degradation from illegal mining, place Ghana at a strategic crossroads,” the statement said.

Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi emphasised the need to prioritise youth involvement, research, and local processing. “The rescue of Ghana’s cocoa industry is a moral imperative, not merely an economic task,” he said.

The Conference has also shared a detailed pastoral letter on the cocoa crisis with former President John Dramani Mahama and the Leadership of Parliament for urgent consideration.