News:
July 29, 2026
Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, has made a strong case for the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026 to be considered under a certificate of urgency, arguing that cocoa farmers cannot wait any longer for solutions to their long-standing challenges.
Presenting the case on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Ayariga insisted that the proposed legislation is the result of extensive stakeholder consultations and represents the government’s commitment to legally addressing the crises plaguing the sector.
Extensive consultation
Mr. Ayariga disclosed that the government, through the supervisory ministry and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), engaged a consultant firm that toured the country to gather views from farmers and other stakeholders.
“The report of the consultations feeds into the cabinet memorandum, which is then presented to cabinet for approval for the revision of the law. The cabinet approves it, it then goes to the attorney general and the cabinet approves it, informs the draft bill,” he explained.
He dismissed suggestions that the bill was being rushed, pointing out that the legislation was not new but had gone through a rigorous process. He noted that an amendment bill had previously been before the House for close to a year, during which time the cocoa sector experienced significant turmoil due to volatile world market prices.
Cocoa pricing at the heart of the crisis
According to the Majority Leader, the core problem the bill seeks to address is cocoa pricing and the need for a robust system of hygiene and price risk management.
“We in the NDC are determined today to bring an end to the problems of cocoa farmers. And we will do it by passing the law today. You can no longer delay the solution to the problem of cocoa farmers. We will not accept that,” he declared.
He challenged his colleagues in the Minority, many of whom he noted have served as ministers of state or have direct experience in the cocoa industry, to raise any concerns about the bill now.
“If there are any proposals in this bill that you disagree with, that is not consistent with your experience as cocoa farmers, tell us now,” he said.
Opposition warns against rushing reforms
However, the push for urgency has met resistance from the Minority. Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has warned that the bill in its current form could endanger the guaranteed producer prices that protect cocoa farmers.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah argued that the proposed pricing mechanism would replace the current minimum guaranteed farm-gate price with a fluctuating model, creating uncertainty and discouraging investment in cocoa production.
“The cocoa industry is such a big industry here in Ghana. Look at the last time they took a decision at Cabinet to cut cocoa prices by about 30%. It’s impacted a lot of cocoa-growing areas across the country. You don’t take major decisions like this in a rush,” he said.
He called for broader consultations with farmers before any final decision is taken.
Standard legislative practice
Defending the use of the certificate of urgency, Mr. Ayariga described it as a standard legislative practice that does not equate to misconduct or an abuse of procedure. He explained that the certificate primarily waives the mandatory 14-day gazette notification period to save time, particularly for bills that have already been advertised and reviewed.
“Taking a bill under a certificate of urgency is a standard legislative practice and does not imply misconduct in the passage of the bill,” he stated.
The Majority Leader urged his colleagues to vote to adopt the report and pass the bill, stressing that procrastination would no longer be tolerated. “We will not procrastinate. We will not delay. We will not let anybody stand in the way of dealing with the problem of cocoa farmers,” he concluded.
Ghanamps.com