NPP urges Mahama not to assent to Cocoa Board Bill over ‘rushed’ passage

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged President John Mahama not to approve the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, but to send it back to Parliament for a more thorough consultation with stakeholders. They argue that the Bill was rushed through Parliament without proper engagement with cocoa farmers and other key players, despite its potential significant impacts on the cocoa industry.

The NPP's ranking member on Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku, made this demand during a press conference at the party’s headquarters. The Bill, which replaces the Ghana Cocoa Board Law, 1984, introduces notable changes such as new governance structures, a tribunal, and new offences. Dr Opoku highlighted that the Bill was introduced to Parliament on July 28 and passed within the same week, suggesting the process lacked sufficient time for meaningful dialogue with cocoa farmers, landowners, and industry stakeholders.

The NPP also expressed concerns about provisions that restrict the destruction or uprooting of cocoa trees without prior authorization. Dr Opoku argued that such a requirement could unnecessarily limit farmers' ability to manage their own farms, potentially leading to sanctions for activities like removing unproductive or diseased trees.

He questioned why cocoa farmers should need permission from the Ghana Cocoa Board to remove trees they deem no longer productive. The party warned that the legislation's consequences could extend beyond current cocoa farmers, potentially affecting the future of an industry vital to Ghana's economy. Consequently, they are asking President Mahama to return the Bill to Parliament for further review and broader engagement with farmers and other stakeholders before any reconsideration.