Minority Slams Government Over Unpaid Cocoa Farmers
The Minority in Parliament has criticized the government for failing to pay cocoa farmers for produce sold to the Cocoa Board, with some farmers going without payment since November last year.
Addressing the media in Parliament, Offinso South MP, Hon. Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, blamed the government and Cocoa Board for the crisis, saying Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) are constrained due to unpaid funds.
“The LBCs have borrowed from banks and offtakers to prefinance the harvest, but Cocoa Board owes them over 10 billion cedis in defaulted receipts,” Dr. Opoku said.
He accused the government of misleading the public, saying farmers are suffering while the Cocoa Board claims to have released funds to LBCs.
The Minority demands immediate payment to farmers, reimbursement of LBCs, and an apology from the government for the hardship caused.
Hon. Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, Member of Parliament for Offinso South, has revealed a leadership conflict between the CEO of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the Managing Director of Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), citing it as a major factor in the country’s cocoa industry woes.
Addressing the media, Dr. Opoku stated that the internal struggle has disrupted the work of the Sales and Pricing Committee, leading to delayed decisions and missed opportunities. He emphasized that this comes at a time when farmers are struggling with delayed payments and financial hardship.
The Minority MP attributed the crisis to the politicization of COCOBOD and its sales strategy, saying the previous government’s approach to forward sales helped stabilize prices and ensure timely payments. He criticized the current government’s reversal of this policy, leaving farmers vulnerable to price drops.
Dr. Opoku’s revelations come amid growing concerns over COCOBOD’s management and allegations of incompetence against CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo.
The Minority in Parliament, led by Hon. Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku, MP for Offinso South, has made a passionate appeal to the government and Cocoa Board to immediately pay cocoa farmers for produce sold and to be sold.
In a statement, Dr. Opoku demanded an apology from the government and Cocoa Board for “gross dereliction of duty”, citing the hardship faced by farmers. He called on Cocoa Board to reimburse Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) and ensure prompt repayment of future deliveries.
“Cocoa farmers are not beggars. Paying them promptly is not a favour, it’s an obligation,” Dr. Opoku emphasized, urging the government to act swiftly to save the cocoa industry.
