News
ILEE proposes market based reforms following cocoa producer price adjustment
The Institute for Liberty and Economic Education has welcomed the decision by the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Cocoa Board to adjust the cocoa producer price to GH₵2,587 per bag, describing it as a difficult but necessary step to protect the financial stability of the cocoa sector.
The adjustment, announced on February 12, comes at a time of rising global market pressures and domestic liquidity challenges.
According to ILEE, the price review highlights broader difficulties in managing cocoa prices under a highly centralized system.
The institute views the development as a signal for reforms that will better link world market prices to what farmers receive locally.
The Director of Policy at ILEE, Dr. Stephen Morgan noted that while government efforts to openly address the current challenges are encouraging, more frequent and market linked price reviews would help avoid sudden and disruptive changes in the future.
ILEE therefore proposed a set of reforms it describes as a partnership for prosperity to support government efforts and protect farmers.
These include adopting a price setting formula that adjusts more regularly in line with global trends, expanding the role of Licensed Buying Companies to reduce the financial burden on the state, and giving farmers greater flexibility in how and where they sell their cocoa.
The institute believes these steps will help curb problems such as smuggling and the shift of farmlands to illegal mining.
The think tank called for stronger incentives for local cocoa processing.
It praised government efforts to promote value addition and encouraged further easing of restrictions to allow small scale Ghanaian businesses to process more cocoa locally, which could reduce pressure on exports and create additional jobs.
ILEE indicated its readiness to work with COCOBOD and the Ministry of Finance to develop a balanced framework that combines state oversight with market efficiency.
It maintains that closer alignment between local cocoa prices and global market realities will help ensure that Ghana remains a leading producer known for quality cocoa and improved farmer welfare.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Thomas Partey, Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer, Kojo Oppong Peprah, and Alexander Djiku trained with the Black Stars on Tuesday, March 23 as preparations intensify for the international friendly against Austria on Friday.
The newly arrived players—Partey, Königsdörffer, Oppong Peprah and Djiku—joined the group training Tuesday afternoon in readiness for the match.
Partey and Djiku bring valuable experience and dexterity to the team, having played a major role in securing Ghana a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America.
All 25 players participated in Tuesday’s training session, each aiming to catch the eye of head coach Otto Addo.
The full squad present at training included Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Benjamin Asare, Joseph Anang, Patrick Pfeiffer, Derrick Luckassen, Derrick Kohn, Jerome Opoku, Caleb Yirenkyi, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Jonas Adjetey, Marvin Senaya, Gideon Mensah, Elisha Owusu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Kwasi Sibo, Jordan Ayew, Prince Kwabena Adu, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Antoine Semenyo, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Daniel Agyei, Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku, and Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer.
Training will continue on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the match on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The Kadjebi District Police Command, through a sustained intelligence-led operation, has arrested a suspect, Chalim Madzaton, also known as Peter Tano, 36, a farmer.
He was apprehended at his hideout in Kpaya, a suburb of Ahamansu, in connection with the murder of 80-year-old Dakolor Semaka.
On March 24, 2026, police received a report that the suspect had allegedly attacked his girlfriend, Yaa Tugbenyo, 55, and her mother, the deceased, at their residence in Mangoase near Kadjebi During the incident, Yaa Tugbenyo managed to escape but later returned to find her mother lying motionless on the floor.
Police Officers visited the scene and found the body of the deceased lying in a supine positior with isible signs of violence.
The scene was processed, and photographs were taken for evidential purpose.
The deceased was pronounced dead by a medical officer at St. Mary Theresa Hospital and the body has since been deposited at the hospital’s morgue for preservation and autopsy.
The suspect is currently in Police custody assisting with investigations and will be arraigned before court.
