Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice-Presidential candidate, has commended the Nana Addo-led government for revitalizing the livelihoods of thousands of cocoa farmers through its extensive Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme.
Speaking at a gathering of chiefs in Debiso, Western North Region, on Monday, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, explained that the initiative was designed to combat the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and rejuvenate cocoa farms affected by the disease.
“Through this initiative, we have taken significant steps to restore the lost livelihoods of cocoa farmers by addressing the disease and enhancing farm productivity and resilience,” Dr. Prempeh stated.
Reflecting on the previous administration, he noted that farmers were largely left to manage the impacts of CSSVD on their own during John Mahama’s presidency.
“Instead of intervening to secure our cocoa sector, the previous government allowed farmers to handle CSSVD independently.
Unsurprisingly, this ineffective approach led to the disease’s spread, resulting in many farms becoming infected and a significant decline in Ghana’s cocoa output, with Western North losing nearly two-thirds of its production capacity.”
In contrast, Dr. Prempeh highlighted the proactive measures taken by the Nana Addo-led government to manage CSSVD.
The government covered the costs of removing diseased trees, replanting with disease-resistant, high-yield seedlings, and overseeing the recovery of these farms for at least two years until the new crops matured.
As part of the programme, the government provided free labor, while farmers received GH₵1,000.00 per hectare of infected land to help offset financial burdens during rehabilitation.
Compensation was also extended to both tenant farmers and landowners affected by tenancy agreements, ensuring that all stakeholders benefited.
“We acted decisively where the previous government failed,” Dr. Prempeh emphasized. “This government didn’t abandon farmers to their fate; we stood by them, rehabilitated their farms, and supported them throughout the process.”
As of August 2024, Dr. Prempeh reported that over 44,000 farms covering more than 40,000 hectares had been successfully rehabilitated and were already producing.
He expressed optimism that the initiative would continue to provide stability and prosperity for cocoa farmers, underscoring the government’s commitment to securing Ghana’s cocoa industry and supporting farmers’ livelihoods.
