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THE BETRAYAL OF GHANA’S COCOA FARMERS: A MONUMENTAL BREACH OF TRUST

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Ghana’s cocoa farmers have long served as the cornerstone of the national economy. From the verdant cocoa-growing enclaves of the Western North, Ashanti, Bono, Eastern, and Central Regions, these industrious men and women have laboured under the relentless sun and torrential rains to sustain the very lifeblood of Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings.

Cocoa has historically played a pivotal role in Ghana’s GDP and continues to be one of the nation’s foremost export commodities, generating billions of dollars in annual revenue. Yet today, these same farmers find themselves mired in economic despair, political disillusionment, and institutional neglect.

Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, trailing only Côte d’Ivoire, yielding between 600,000 to 900,000 metric tonnes annually, contingent upon the season. The sector directly supports over 800,000 farming families and indirectly sustains more than 2 million Ghanaians. Cocoa revenues constitute a significant portion of Ghana’s export earnings and profoundly contribute to rural livelihoods. The cocoa pricing system in Ghana is meticulously regulated by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), which announces producer prices each season.

Under the administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), under the esteemed leadership of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the prices for cocoa producers have experienced a remarkable escalation over the years. From a modest GH¢300 per bag in the nascent years of the Fourth Republic, the price surged dramatically to GH¢3,100 per 64kg bag by the onset of the 2023/2024 cocoa season.

This increase, albeit fraught with challenges, was widely acknowledged as a concerted effort to shield cocoa farmers from the vicissitudes of global market fluctuations and domestic inflationary pressures.

During the 2024 electoral campaign, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), under the aegis of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, made emphatic and unequivocal pledges to cocoa farmers throughout Ghana. The promise was both audacious and politically alluring to elevate the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,100 to GH¢6,000 per bag upon assuming office.

AFRICAN UNIVERSITY OF COMMUNICATION AND BUSINESS (AUCB) – TESCON

E-mail: aucbtescon@gmail.com

H.E. Kwasi Ohene-Bugyei (President) – 0558200320

H.E. Stephen Boateng Osei-Bonsu (Vice President) – 0241421593

Lisa Abiana Codjoe (Secretary) – 0553706609

Justice Kwasi Forson (Communication Director) – 0241819541

Muniratu Mohammed (Nasara Coordinator) – 0552680408

Tedra Bampoe (Women’s Commissioner) – 0554750725

Ebenezer Orkoh Ayesu (Organizer) – 0559761014

Daniel Akowuah (Treasurer) – 0596055084

AFRICAN UNIVERSITY OF COMMUNICATION AND BUSINESS (AUCB) – TESCON

E-mail: aucbtescon@gmail.com

This proclamation was reiterated at rallies, community engagements, and campaign platforms across cocoa-producing regions.

The commitment was not merely rhetorical; it was articulated as an immediate economic intervention poised to transform the livelihoods of farmers, enabling them to cover educational expenses, address medical bills, expand their agricultural endeavors, and lead lives imbued with dignity..

The repercussions of this failure are dire: Escalating rural poverty, Increasing school dropout rates within cocoa-producing communities, Intensified rural-urban migration, Deterioration in the upkeep of cocoa farms, jeopardizing future yields, and Growing disenchantment with democratic accountability. Cocoa farmers perceive a profound sense of disrespect, not only in economic terms but also politically, as their electoral support was secured through a promise that now appears to be illusory.

The Government must urgently reassess the cocoa producer price, necessitating a commitment to transparency. If the GH¢6,000 pledge cannot be realized immediately, a phased increment strategy with explicit timelines should be articulated. Cocoa farmers are entitled to dignity and integrity.

Cocoa farmers are entitled to economic justice and Ghana’s prosperity has historically been predicated upon cocoa. To disregard the very hands that nurture it, is to undermine the very foundation of the Republic itself. The era of rhetorical assurances has elapsed. The moment for decisive action is upon us. Cocoa farmers in Ghana deserve far better than the current government’s treatment, which belittles their significant contributions to Ghana’s economy.

Long live Ghana!

Long live Ghana Cocoa Farmers!

Long live AUCB-TESCON!

May the Lord make us great and strong!

Issued By:

AUCB TESCON

Signed:

H.E. Kwasi Ohene-Bugyei

AUCB TESCON President

COMMITMENT WITHOUT INDUCEMENT

 

Politics

NPP Treasurer Denies Dues Diversion Claims, Warns Against Fake Payment Shortcode

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The Office of the National Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by Dr. Charles Dwamena, has firmly dismissed allegations circulating on social media that party dues are being diverted into a private account through an unauthorized shortcode.

In a statement addressing the claims, the Office described the reports, which originated from a Facebook page known as “Wo Boooowa,” as false, malicious, and intended to discredit the party’s ongoing dues collection efforts.

The Treasurer’s Office clarified that the NPP’s official shortcode for dues payment remains unchanged and is 920270#. It stressed that the alternative shortcode 7142028#, currently being circulated online, has never been used by the party for any financial transactions.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Party’s dues collection shortcode has always been 920270#,” the statement reiterated.

Party members, supporters, and the general public have been urged to ignore the unauthorized code, which the Office described as a deliberate attempt to mislead unsuspecting individuals.

The Office further assured stakeholders of the transparency, credibility, and integrity of the party’s financial systems.

This incident underscores increasing concerns about the spread of misinformation on social media, particularly within political circles, as the NPP approaches its internal elections.

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Politics

FROM VISION TO ACTION: DR. CHINA’S GRASSROOTS REVOLUTION THE NPP CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS

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Dr. Charles Dwamena, popularly known as Dr. China, has distinguished himself as a visionary and grassroots-centered leader whose ideas reflect a deep understanding of the realities of party members at the base. At a time when many speak about empowering the grassroots, he has demonstrated the courage and clarity to design practical systems that directly improve their welfare.

 

As NPP National Treasurer, his proposal of the Group Accident Insurance Scheme remains one of the most forward-thinking policies ever introduced within the party. It was simple, sustainable, and impactful. With just GHS 1.47 deducted from the minimum annual dues of GHS 24, every member in good standing would have been covered, guaranteeing GHS 100,000 for accidental death or permanent disability, weekly income support for temporary disability, and up to GHS 10,000 in medical care. This was not merely a welfare policy; it was a strategic intervention that combined member protection with financial strengthening of the party.

 

What makes this initiative even more compelling is that it enjoyed 98.14% support from the grassroots. A clear indication that Dr. China’s leadership resonates with the base and responds directly to their needs. It was a rare opportunity for the party to institutionalize care, build loyalty, and create a strong emotional bond with its members.

 

Yet, despite its overwhelming support and obvious benefits, this policy was frustrated and never implemented. That failure represents one of the biggest missed opportunities for the NPP, a chance to move from rhetoric to reality in addressing grassroots welfare. The party had before it a ready-made solution to protect its members, motivate its base, and strengthen its internal systems, but internal bottlenecks denied it that breakthrough.

 

It is within this context that Dr. China’s ambition to serve as NPP General Secretary becomes both relevant and urgent. His experience as Treasurer has exposed the gaps in execution and the structural constraints that stall progress. More importantly, it has strengthened his resolve to fix them.

 

Dr. China is not offering promises; he is offering proven ideas waiting to be implemented. His vision is clear—to build a party where the grassroots are not only mobilized during elections but are protected, valued, and supported at all times.

 

In essence, what was halted at the level of Treasurer can be fully realized at the level of General Secretary. And for a party seeking renewal and reconnection with its base, Dr. China represents a practical, results-oriented leadership, one that turns vision into action and places the grassroots at the center of party progress.

 

DR CHINA FOR NPP GENERAL SECRETARY IS NON- NEGOTIABLE

Obiri Yeboah

Former Polling Station Organizer

054 067 3993

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Politics

If Trump Can Destroy Iran, Why Not Just Open the Strait of Hormuz?

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Kaakyire Badu writes:

Donald Trump has threatened to wipe out Iran within hours. He said he will destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges, and even wipe out an entire civilization. But Tehran is not showing fear. Iranian officials are pushing back, and many people are asking if the U.S. is bluffing, and if Iran is ready to call that bluff. This situation raises two main questions.

 

First, if this is really about the Strait of Hormuz and Trump wants it open, and if he truly has the power to destroy bridges, power plants, or an entire country as he claims, why doesn’t he use that power on the Strait alone? Why threaten the whole nation instead of just taking control of that waterway so ships can pass? Does this mean Iran is so strong at the Strait of Hormuz that even American power cannot do anything there?

 

Second, Iran’s reaction is strange. When faced with threats to destroy power plants, bridges, and send the country back to the Stone Age, Tehran still looks calm. A country that is weaker militarily would usually try to back down. Iran is instead waiting to see what Trump will do. Is that confidence, a mistake, or are they hiding something?

 

Does Iran have some hidden power that can match or beat the U.S., and they are just staying quiet and playing weak while they wait? America has said Iran must not build nuclear weapons. Could it be that Iran has already built a nuclear weapon in secret—one that America does not know about—that can reach the U.S. and kill many people? Would that explain why they are not afraid?

 

Or could it be that other countries like Russia or China are secretly backing Iran? Are they promising to help Iran so it will not surrender? Something about this does not add up, and the whole world could be affected. Many people are now talking about World War III.

 

My own belief, based on the Bible, is that there will not be a real World War III. I believe God would step in before that happens. But things do look strange right now. It could also be that Bible prophecies are being fulfilled, and that God is hardening hearts like He did with Pharaoh. Pharaoh had a simple way to save Egypt and his family, but he could not obey, and disaster came on him and on Israel.

I think we should be concerned:

That may be the pattern we are seeing now.

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