Ghanaian journalist and aspiring Communications Officer, Nana Otuo Darko, has pointed out that a primary challenge facing the ruling government is its inability to effectively tell its success stories.
He noted that while in power, the party often allows the opposition to spread falsehoods and propaganda that undermine the government’s achievements.
A key example of this communication gap, according to Darko, is the recent adjustment in cocoa prices. While the government has introduced various reforms to guarantee fair prices and ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry, the messaging surrounding these changes has been lacking.
On February 12, 2026, the government announced a reduction in the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag, representing a 28.6% decrease.
This decision sparked immediate concern, particularly within cocoa-growing communities where some felt the government had “cheated” the farmers.
Nana Otuo Darko clarified the situation by comparing the current administration’s policy to that of the previous administration.
He said while the NDC policy committed to paying cocoa farmers 70% of the global market price, the current policy provides them with 90%, representing a significant 20% increase in the farmers’ total share of the value chain.
He explained that by increasing the farmers’ percentage, the government has had to absorb costs that would typically be retained elsewhere in the cocoa value chain. Furthermore, he emphasized that the revised price still covers production costs and is not below the cost of producing a bag of cocoa.
Mr Darko maintained that critics should not focus solely on nominal figures.
He argued that despite the reduction, the current price offers better purchasing power for farmers compared to the GH¢3,100 offered by the previous government, due to the broader economic context and reforms.
Admitting that the government’s PR strategy has been insufficient, Darko cited this as a primary reason for his bid for the Communications Officer position.
He noted that new reforms will include an automatic price mechanism to ensure farmers consistently receive 70% of the international market price at prevailing exchange rates.
He urged farmers to understand that recent global price volatility necessitated these difficult policy decisions and warned them against falling for “opposition lies.”
“You asked if we had treated the farmers well. I believe we could do better than what we have done. The question stems from the NDC’s communication, and that is why some of us have decided to jump into the arena and help from a communications perspective. Sammy Gyamfi left a sterling legacy or left a certain mark. He was expected to have been moving from one station to another explaining the reasons for the reduction, but he is in charge of GoldBod and doing so well that in one fiscal year GoldBod gave Ghana close to $10 billion, an unprecedented achievement limited only to the small-scale mining sector.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
