‘The Ghana you speak of today is bright’ — Ayariga praises President Mahama's SONA

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as transformative leadership, describing the progress made under the administration as a stark contrast to the situation the President inherited from the Akufo-Addo administration.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament shortly after the President delivered the 2026 State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, Mr Ayariga said, “The Ghana you inherited is as dark as the dark dresses that they [Minority side] are wearing on the other side. And the Ghana you speak of today is clearly as bright as the white dresses we [Majority side] are wearing on this side.”

He insisted that the President’s account of the state of the economy and ongoing reforms was factual, adding that even the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, would acknowledge visible development projects, including road works under the government’s “Big Push” programme in Winneba.

Touching on cocoa pricing, Mr Ayariga defended the government’s recent downward adjustment of farmgate prices, comparing Ghana’s support for its cocoa farmers to that of neighbouring Ivory Coast. 

“The main price was 2,800 CFA per Kg. When converted to Ghana cedis, this is about 980 to about 1,225 Ghana cedis per 64 kg bag. In Ghana, farmers are paid 2,587 per 64 kg bag, which is more than twice the price in Ivory Coast,” he said.

Citing a Reuters report, he noted that Cote d'Ivoire will pay cocoa farmers between 800 and 1,000 CFA francs per kilogramme for the mid-crop season starting March 1, while Ghanaian farmers continue to receive GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag. Mr Ayariga argued that this demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to supporting the sector despite broader economic pressures.

He linked recent economic developments to falling food prices, suggesting that ordinary Ghanaians are now better able to afford essential commodities such as sugar and rice.

Referencing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Mr Ayariga expressed confidence that Muslims across the country would pray for blessings for the President, describing his leadership as one that has earned recognition across West Africa. “Your sterling leadership, leadership that has been recognised by the entire West Africa, that is why they unanimously elected you unopposed to lead in Africa. Ghanaians are proud of you,” he said.

The Majority Leader’s remarks come in the wake of the government’s announcement on February 12, 2026, that the producer price for cocoa would be reduced to GH¢41,392 per tonne (equivalent to GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag) for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The adjustment followed a sharp decline in international cocoa prices, which made the initial higher farmgate price less sustainable and created liquidity challenges for the sector.