President Mahama Responds to Viral “Mahama Wo De Yɛ Ka” Video, Outlines Cocoa Industrialisation Agenda

President John Dramani Mahama has responded to the viral “Mahama wo de yɛ ka” video involving cocoa farmers, using the moment to highlight his government’s renewed commitment to transforming Ghana’s cocoa sector through industrialisation and value addition.
Speaking during an engagement with the Ghanaian community in Philadelphia, Mahama emphasised the urgent need for Ghana to move beyond exporting raw cocoa beans and instead prioritise local processing to improve farmer incomes and strengthen the national economy.
According to the President, recent volatility in global cocoa prices—coupled with growing farmer dissatisfaction—should serve as a wake-up call for the country. He noted that nearly seven decades after independence, Ghana still relies heavily on exporting raw cocoa, a model he described as unsustainable.
Mahama explained that his administration is introducing structural reforms aimed at reshaping how cocoa is financed, purchased, and marketed. A key aspect of this plan is reducing dependence on foreign traders who traditionally provide upfront financing for cocoa purchases.
Instead, the government intends to raise its own funds to directly purchase cocoa from farmers. This shift, he said, will give Ghana greater control over its cocoa resources and free the sector from external financial constraints.
“Our cocoa will no longer be used as collateral,” Mahama stated, adding that the new model will empower the country to make independent decisions about its cocoa value chain.
A central pillar of the reform agenda is increasing local processing capacity. Mahama revealed plans to allocate a significant portion of Ghana’s cocoa production to domestic processing factories before export. This approach is expected to boost value retention, create jobs, and stimulate industrial growth.
The President stressed that industrialising the cocoa sector is not only an economic necessity but also a strategic move to ensure that farmers benefit more equitably from their labour.
The announcement forms part of a broader national agenda to industrialise Ghana’s agricultural sector, reduce reliance on raw exports, and build a more resilient and self-sufficient economy.