Omanghana
The New Patriotic Party has called on President John Dramani Mahama to withhold assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, warning that some of its provisions could criminalize routine farming activities and discourage young people from entering the cocoa sector.
The Member of Parliament for Manso Adubia, Yaw Frimpong Addo, criticized the government for allegedly rushing the bill through Parliament without adequate engagement with cocoa farmers, landowners and other industry stakeholders.
The bill was reportedly laid before Parliament on July 28 and passed within a week. Opposition lawmakers argue that the limited period prevented sufficient public scrutiny of legislation that could significantly affect land ownership and agricultural livelihoods.
Although the bill is intended to protect cocoa-producing areas from destruction caused by illegal mining, critics say its restrictions and penalties could create serious operational difficulties for independent farmers.
One of the main concerns involves provisions requiring farmers to obtain approval from the Ghana Cocoa Board before uprooting cocoa trees, including those considered diseased, old or no longer productive.
Opponents argue that this requirement could delay routine farm management and limit the ability of farmers to make urgent decisions about their properties. They also fear that farmers could face prosecution for ordinary agronomic practices if the law is not clearly defined.
The bill reportedly provides prison sentences of up to 20 years for unauthorized conversions of cocoa farms. The NPP says such punishment is excessive and risks treating landowners like criminals for deciding how to use privately controlled agricultural land.
The opposition has also questioned provisions that could restrict farmers from replacing cocoa with other crops. Some landowners may wish to move into rubber, oil palm or other agricultural activities when cocoa production becomes unprofitable.
Frimpong Addo argued that farmers who finance their own operations should retain reasonable authority over decisions affecting their land. He maintained that the government must balance the national importance of cocoa with the property and economic rights of individual farmers.
Another opposition lawmaker, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, described aspects of the legislation as “draconian.” He warned that excessive regulation could make cocoa farming less attractive, particularly to younger Ghanaians already reluctant to enter the sector.
The government maintains that stronger legislation is necessary to protect cocoa farms from the rapid expansion of illegal gold mining, popularly known as galamsey. Thousands of acres of productive agricultural land have come under pressure as miners offer landowners immediate payments for access to mineral deposits.
Supporters of the legislation believe tighter controls are needed to prevent the uncontrolled destruction of cocoa farms and safeguard one of Ghana’s most important export commodities.
The NPP, however, insists that measures designed to combat illegal mining must distinguish between the deliberate sale of cocoa land for mining and legitimate farm-management decisions.
The party’s Policy Committee on Agriculture is demanding amendments to Clause 31 to provide clearer protection for routine agricultural practices. It also wants ministerial exemptions under the legislation to be narrowed to prevent selective or discretionary enforcement.
The committee has urged the President to return the bill to Parliament for further consultation and amendment before it becomes law.
The controversy presents the government with the challenge of protecting national cocoa production without undermining farmers’ autonomy. Stakeholders fear that failure to strike that balance could reduce investment, weaken confidence and accelerate the departure of young people from cocoa farming.
Source: Omanghana
