Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO and the Vice-Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has credited the Nana Addo-led government for restoring the livelihoods of thousands of cocoa farmers through the comprehensive Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme.

Speaking at a durbar of Chiefs at Debiso in the Western North Region, Dr. Prempeh said the rehabilitation programme was designed to effectively curb the spread of CSSVD and revitalise affected farms.

“Through this initiative, we have taken steps to restore the lost livelihoods of cocoa farmers by not only addressing the disease but also boosting farm productivity and resilience,” he stated.

He recounted that, under the John Mahama government, the approach to combat CSSVD was flawed because it burdened farmers with the task of cutting down diseased trees themselves, replanting, and managing the process largely without effective supervision.

“Instead of intervening to secure our cocoa sector, the previous government left farmers to handle CSSVD alone. Not surprisingly, this approach was not effective and led to the spread of the disease. Many farms became infected, and Ghana’s cocoa output suffered immensely, with Western North losing close to two-thirds of its production capacity.”

In contrast, Dr. Prempeh highlighted the transformative approach adopted by the Nana Addo-led government, which took responsibility for containing CSSVD and provided robust support to farmers.

Under this administration, he said, the government assumed the full cost of cutting down diseased trees, treating the farms, replanting disease-tolerant, high-yielding seedlings, and managing the farmland for not less than two years until new crops could thrive.

Additionally, labour is provided at no cost to farmers, and farmers receive GH₵1,000.00 per hectare of infected land to alleviate the financial impact of the rehabilitation on their livelihoods. The programme also provided compensation for both tenant farmers and landowners where tenancy agreements are affected, ensuring that all parties benefit from the rehabilitation process.

“We took action where the previous government failed,” Dr. Prempeh emphasised. “This government didn’t just abandon farmers to their fate; we stood by them, rehabilitated their farms, and supported them every step of the way.”

Since its implementation, this programme has brought significant results. As of August 2024, over 44,000 farms, totalling more than 40,000 hectares, are already yielding, he said.

NAPO expressed optimism that the rehabilitation initiative would continue to provide stability and prosperity for cocoa farmers. He emphasised that this success is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry and protecting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.