The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Lawyer Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, has accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of engaging in political mischief over the current cocoa pricing concerns, warning that “cocoa politics” could undermine Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s presidential ambitions in 2028.
In a social media post, Mr. Tameklo drew parallels between the ongoing cocoa debate and the controversial Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) introduced under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He described the DDEP as an “obnoxious haircut” on the savings of both foreign and domestic investors, which he said triggered spontaneous protests by elderly Ghanaian citizens at the Ministry of Finance.
According to him, the NDC, while in opposition at the time, did not sponsor or bus supporters to participate in those demonstrations.
He referenced the involvement of former Chief Justice Sophia Akufo, who openly picketed at the Ministry of Finance and described the DDEP as being “like a military takeover.”
Mr. Tameklo alleged that the NPP is now attempting to politicise challenges within the cocoa sector, accusing the party’s Director of Communications, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, of orchestrating demonstrations.
He claimed that a viral video shows one of the alleged cocoa farmers admitting they were transported to Accra to protest and were demanding money to return home.
In contrast, he praised President John Dramani Mahama as a transformational leader who confronts national issues head-on.
He disclosed that President Mahama had already convened an emergency Cabinet meeting to address the cocoa pricing concerns and find both immediate and long-term solutions.
Mr. Tameklo further cited President Mahama’s 2015 reforms in the petroleum downstream sector, where subsidies on petrol and diesel were removed to allow prices to reflect global market conditions.
He noted that the introduction of the Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA) has since generated approximately GH¢45 billion for the country.
Drawing from that precedent, he said the President intends to apply a similar dynamic pricing model to cocoa, allowing farm-gate prices to reflect movements on the international market.
“If the price goes up, cocoa farmers will benefit immediately. If it goes down, the same measure applies,” he stated.
He criticised the NPP’s proposed alternative—borrowing funds to immediately support cocoa farmers, as unsustainable. “If you borrow for cocoa farmers, you must borrow for poultry farmers and maize farmers. Is that sustainable?” he questioned, warning that such borrowing would increase public debt for future generations.
Mr. Tameklo concluded that attempts to exploit cocoa sector challenges for political gain would ultimately backfire on the NPP, insisting that “cocoa politics” could derail Dr. Bawumia’s 2028 presidential campaign.
