The Offinsomanhene, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, has urged the Minority Caucus in Parliament to strongly represent the concerns of cocoa farmers as they begin a tour of cocoa-producing communities across the Ashanti Region.

“Go and speak for the farmers — we are behind you,” the chief told the lawmakers when a delegation of Minority Members of Parliament paid a courtesy call on him and the Offinso Queenmother, Nana Adwoa Afranewaa III, during the traditional Akwasidae celebration in Offinso on Sunday.

The delegation, led by the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, was in the traditional area to seek the blessings of the chiefs ahead of a week-long engagement with cocoa farmers beginning Monday.

According to the Minority MPs, the tour is aimed at listening directly to farmers and gathering firsthand information about the impact of recent producer price reductions, widely described by farmers as “cocoa price haircuts.”

Originally, the MPs had intended to pay a courtesy call on the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. However, they were informed that the Asantehene was out of the country.

In his absence, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, regarded as one of the senior traditional authorities within the Asante Kingdom, received the delegation and offered his blessings for the planned tour.

Addressing the MPs, the Offinsomanhene urged them to approach the concerns of cocoa farmers with fairness and to ensure that the issue is treated as a national matter rather than a partisan political contest.

He emphasised that cocoa farmers remain the backbone of Ghana’s cocoa economy and deserve greater attention and support from policymakers.

The chief also used the occasion to call on the Parliament of Ghana to consider enacting laws that would protect traditional leaders from public insults and unfounded allegations, stressing that respect for chieftaincy institutions is essential for preserving Ghana’s cultural values and social harmony.

Earlier, speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr Annoh-Dompreh said the Minority caucus considered it important to first seek the blessings of traditional authorities before embarking on the tour.

He noted that chiefs play a crucial role in the governance and development of cocoa-producing communities.

“We are here to listen to the voice of the cocoa farmer,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh said during the Akwasidae durbar. 

“Whatever concerns they raise during this tour will be carried to Parliament so that their plight can be properly represented and solutions found to improve their livelihoods.”

According to him, the engagement will allow MPs to interact directly with farmers and assess the impact of the recent cocoa price reductions, rising cost of farm inputs and other production challenges affecting the sector.

He added that after completing their engagements across the Ashanti Region, the delegation intends to formally brief the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on the concerns raised by farmers and the outcome of the tour.

The Ashanti Region visit follows a similar engagement recently conducted by the Minority caucus in cocoa-growing communities in the Eastern Region.

During that tour, farmers reportedly expressed concerns over declining incomes, rising production costs and the reduction in cocoa producer prices from over GH¢3,500 per bag to about GH¢2,500.

Members of the Minority delegation, including MPs serving on parliamentary committees responsible for economic affairs, development, food, agriculture and cocoa matters, say the nationwide engagement is intended to gather evidence-based feedback from farmers to support calls for policy review in the cocoa sector.

The Ashanti Region tour is expected to continue throughout the week, with the MPs visiting several cocoa-producing communities to interact with farmers and document their concerns before raising them in Parliament and before traditional authorities.