The Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has strongly criticised TESCON, the student wing of the New Patriotic Party, over what it describes as deliberate misinformation regarding the current cocoa pricing regime.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 17, and signed by its President, Bilonim M. Oliver, TEIN-UEW described TESCON’s recent press conference as “misleading, politically contrived, and intellectually dishonest,” accusing the group of attempting to exploit cocoa farmers for political gain.
The statement dismissed TESCON’s claim of speaking on behalf of students from cocoa-farming families, noting that the cocoa sector operates within a regulated framework overseen by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), with pricing influenced by global market forces.
TEIN-UEW highlighted that cocoa farmers are currently receiving GH₵2,587 per bag—an amount it says represents approximately 90 percent of the global market price of $4,200 per tonne. According to the group, this pricing structure amounts to a significant government subsidy that has shielded farmers from sharper declines on the international market.
“This level of protection would not have been guaranteed under the previous administration,” the statement read, drawing comparisons with the NPP’s tenure.
Beyond cocoa pricing, TEIN-UEW pointed to broader economic indicators, including the recent appreciation of the cedi, which it said has reduced the cost of imported goods, fuel, and food—reliefs that ultimately benefit students and their families.
The group also commended specific government interventions in education, including the No Fees Stress policy for first-year students and the revival of the Cocoa Tertiary Scholarship programme. These initiatives, it noted, have eased financial burdens on students, particularly those from cocoa-growing households.
TEIN-UEW urged TESCON to abandon what it termed “political theatrics” and focus instead on meaningful student advocacy.
“TESCON must produce thinkers, innovators, and nation builders, not career propagandists,” the statement added.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to factual discourse, responsible leadership, and support for policies that it says improve the lives of Ghanaian families.
