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
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
