Some executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ahafo Ano North District have been accused of attempting to disrupt an engagement session organised by the Minority Caucus with cocoa farmers at Bonkrom.
The Chief of Bonkrom, Nana Kwadwo Nsiah I, has strongly condemned the alleged action as “unacceptable”, stressing that political actors must respect local authority and follow proper protocols when planning programmes in the community.
The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, during the second day of the Minority Caucus’s regional tour to interact with cocoa farmers over concerns surrounding the recent reduction in producer prices.
Led by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh and other New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament, the engagement forms part of a broader outreach to evaluate the impact of the price cut on farmers’ livelihoods across the Ashanti Region.
Tensions emerged when local NDC officials reportedly scheduled a parallel meeting with the same group of farmers at the Bonkrom durbar grounds, resulting in a direct clash over venue and timing.
Security personnel, including police and immigration officers, intervened swiftly to prevent any escalation. They barred the NDC group from accessing the premises and ensured the Minority’s programme continued without further interruption.
Nana Kwadwo Nsiah I explained that the durbar grounds had been booked for the Minority’s event about two weeks in advance, and his office received no prior communication regarding any competing programme from the NDC.
“As community leaders, my elders and I are not opposed to any party, including the NDC. If you wish to organise an event, please approach us to discuss and schedule it properly. It’s essential to keep us informed before proceeding with any programme,” the chief said.
He reiterated that the community remains open to all political parties but insisted on adherence to established procedures to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Several cocoa farmers who attended the session expressed disappointment over the attempted disruption. Farmer Yaw Ofori revealed that the meeting was originally set for Akwasiase but was relocated to Bonkrom after reports of potential interference surfaced.
“Our MP initially told us that we would be meeting the NPP MPs at Akwasiase. However, we received information that supporters of the NDC were planning to disrupt the meeting, so we decided to change the venue to Bonkrom. Despite this change, they still tried to cause chaos and almost disrupted the programme,” he said.
Another farmer, Dapaah Eric, added that even after the venue was switched, some NDC members attempted to occupy the same location before considering an alternative nearby site.
The Minority’s week-long tour, running from March 16 to March 20, 2026, has involved direct engagements in various cocoa-growing districts, including Ahafo Ano North, amid ongoing criticisms of the government’s management of the cocoa sector.