Cocoa farming in Ghana is gradually taking on a worrying meaning for many — a path that often leads to persistent hardship rather than prosperity. Despite repeated calls for the youth to venture into agriculture, particularly cocoa farming, the harsh realities confronting many farmers paint a different picture.
Journalist Augustine Boah, who reports for Adom TV and FM in the Western North Region, has raised deep concerns about the plight of cocoa farmers, describing their situation as one of “hope lost in labour.”
Sharing his personal story, Boah recalled his upbringing in Sefwi Kwasikrom in the Sefwi Bodi District of the Western North Region. Raised by his mother, Martha Ackah, affectionately known as Adwommo, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of cocoa farmers who toil endlessly yet gain little from their efforts.
His mother managed two cocoa farms — one near River Bia and another close to River Sui — under extremely difficult conditions. “I vividly remember watching her wade through flooded cocoa farms, sometimes with water up to her chest, because she could not afford to hire labourers,” he said. “She had no choice but to do the work herself.”
Boah recounted instances where heavy rainfall washed away harvested cocoa pods overnight, leaving the family in despair. “We could not even cross the river the next day. All our efforts had been in vain,” he added.
According to him, such stories reflect the broader reality faced by many cocoa farmers across Ghana. Beyond the physical hardship, farmers struggle with limited access to modern equipment, high costs of fertilisers, and inadequate infrastructure.
“As a journalist, I often feel unsettled when I visit remote farming communities,” he noted. “Many lack access to clean water, quality healthcare, and good road networks. Their entire livelihoods depend on the cocoa farmgate price.”
Boah explained that when the government announces a price increase, farmers experience temporary relief and renewed hope. “They plan their lives around it — paying school fees, medical bills, and other expenses. Some even take loans from purchasing clerks based on expected earnings,” he said.
However, when the farmgate price is reduced or delayed, it becomes a devastating setback for farmers who have already structured their lives around the expected income.
While such decisions may stem from broader economic challenges, Boah insists that the government must implement practical and transparent measures to protect farmers. “Cocoa farmers deserve dignity, stability, and meaningful support,” he said.
He urged Ghanaian leaders to treat the cocoa sector with the seriousness it deserves. “The cocoa industry is too important to be reduced to political rhetoric. It demands responsibility, honesty, and long-term commitment,” he emphasized.
Boah’s reflections echo a growing call for sustainable reforms that will ensure cocoa farming once again becomes a source of pride and prosperity for those who dedicate their lives to it.
