Are you close to the devil to know that the devil will be surprised? — Kwame Sefa Kayi ‘grills’ Salam Mustapha

Peace FM’s broadcast Journalist, Kwame Sefa Kayi has found it surprising as he questions the National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha over his comments regarding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and their promises regarding cocoa prices.

This comes after Salam Mustapha expressed surprise at the NDC's criticism of President Akufo-Addo's pledge to raise the cocoa producer price to GHC1,308 per bag.

The NDC had countered this, stating that they would have increased the price to GHC2,800 if they were in power.

During a conference with cocoa farmers in Dadiesoaba, Ahafo Region, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, asserted, "As we speak now, cocoa prices have seen the biggest increment since 1977, so it is your season to make a profit. If NDC were to be in government, we would have a bag of cocoa at GH¢2,500 and add a premium of GH¢300. So you would have received GH¢2,800 per bag."

Former President John Mahama echoed these sentiments during the opening of the 2023/2024 cocoa season in Tepa, Ashanti Region, emphasizing the remarkable surge in the international spot price of cocoa.

He said, “The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government has once again shortchanged Ghanaian cocoa farmers. The announced increment in the farmgate price of cocoa to GH₵1,308 is a total rip-off as cocoa farmers will continue to remain worse off than they were seven (7) years ago under the NDC/Mahama government.

“The Spot Price of cocoa on the international market has surged to a record high of about $3,600 per metric ton as of 31st August 2023. This price is the highest since 1977- that is, in the last 46 years.”

However, Salam Mustapha, speaking on Peace FM’s "Kokrokoo" morning show, expressed his amazement at the NDC's promises to cocoa farmers.

He stated, "Some of the things that the NDC does in this country, I think even the devil gets surprised...When you look at what they are capable of saying and doing, even the devil will not try it."

This remark prompted a witty and swift reaction from the show's host, Sefa Kayi, who questioned Mustapha, "Are you close to the devil to know that the devil will be surprised?"