Ecuador will overtake Ghana if the NDC does not come to save Ghana’s cocoa sector – John Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over Ghana losing its position as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer to Ecuador if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) retains power.
With Ghana producing 960,000 metric tons of cocoa in 2016, Mahama attributed the decline on the NPP government’s harmful policies that have harmed the cocoa sector.
According to Mahama, the NPP administration has jeopardized the cocoa business by ceasing to provide free fertilizers to farmers, resulting in increasing obstacles including as bug infestations and a corresponding decline in output.
On December 22, 2023, at a durbar at Nyankumasi Ahenkro, in the Assin South district of the Central region, the former President voiced concern over Ghana’s dropping cocoa production in comparison to Ecuador’s growing output.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer asked locals to support the NDC’s campaign for power, highlighting the importance of restoring the free fertilizer program to boost cocoa harvest.
Without assistance, Mahama said, Ecuador might overtake Ghana as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.
“The cocoa sector is collapsing because the trees are dying since there is no fertilizer to apply. There is a country called Ecuador who were nowhere near our production capacity, but they are now producing over 300,000 to almost 400,000 tonnes, and Ghana has been dropping consistently.
“If the NDC doesn’t come to save our cocoa from collapsing, Ecuador will overtake us as the second-largest producer,” Mahama stated as he addressed residents in Twi during his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ in the Central region.
The trip will be used to collect suggestions for the NDC’s People’s Manifesto for the 2024 elections.