Ghana may increase producer price for cocoa

Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer may increase the producer price for the nation’s farmers, said President John Atta Mills.

“We have heard the calls from the farmers for further increases in producer price,” Mills said, without giving details. “We will consider it.”

Mills was addressing farmers today at the Cocoa Producers’ Alliance’s Cocoa Day celebration in Kumasi, the nation’s second- largest city, about 168 miles)north of the capital, Accra.

Ghana will promote local consumption of the beans, seeking to double per capita to 2.2 pounds from less than a half pound, said Anthony Fofie, chief executive officer of the Ghana cocoa board. “We can’t try to control the price on the world market.”