GH¢5.5m for party, nothing for farmers – Minority fumes

The Minority in Parliament has said the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government spends GH¢5.5m monthly on party officials while cocoa farmers go unpaid for months.

The Caucus complains that the government of choosing political patronage over the welfare of Ghana’s struggling cocoa farmers.

At the centre of the storm is Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who alleged that the government is disbursing about GH¢20,000 every month to NDC party executives in each of the country’s 275 constituencies – a staggering GH¢5.5 million monthly.

This spending, the opposition said, comes at a time when many cocoa farmers have not been paid for beans supplied as far back as November 2025.

“The government is prioritising party officials over the very people who feed our economy,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh told journalists. “Even a fraction of that money could ease the suffering of farmers.”

The Minority based its claims on what it says were disclosures made by Mustapha Gbande, Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency. The government had not responded to the allegations by press time.

The row has reignited public debate over the government’s priorities as the cocoa sector reels from a deepening crisis. Farmers have seen the producer price per bag slashed from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587, while costs of fertiliser, labour and transport continue to rise.

Delayed payments and a controversial shift from forward sales to spot sales have further destabilised the industry, according to sector players.

Other Minority MPs, including Michael Okyere Baafi, have raised concerns about possible diversion of funds meant for cocoa farmers, demanding full transparency.

The opposition has vowed to press on with its campaign under the banner: “Pay Farmers, Not Party Executives.” It plans to take the fight from Parliament to cocoa-growing communities nationwide.

“Restoring fair pricing and ensuring prompt payment are not optional – they are essential to saving the livelihoods of millions,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh added.