Angry Cocoa Farmers across the country have urged the Ghanaian government and COCOBOD to release money for purchase of their 2022/2023 harvest else they may be compelled to smuggle Cocoa outside our borders.
Speaking with the media,The farmers complained that, the lives of farmers in the country is in turmoil, apart from not receiving appreciable producer price this year, there has been astronomical increase in cost of inputs, utilities, transportation and many others. They are therefore urging government to release seed fund for the LBC’s to pay them.
They argue that, the hardship that Ghanaian cocoa farmers are experiencing is intolerable and if immediate measures are not taken to ameliorate their plight, the situation of farmers will discourage the majority of the country’s youth from entering the farming business. This will ultimately reduce the nations production of cocoa and lower our country’s foreign exchange from the crop that has been the back bone of Ghana’s economy over the last three decades.
Spokesperson for the following associations across the country, Obaatampa Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union, Dormaaman Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union, Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA) ,Upper Dwira North Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union, WASSA Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union and many others are complaining bitterly that, they are not receiving payments for their produce since the government announced the reopening of cocoa this season. They posit that if money for the farmers are not released, they will sell their Cocoa outside the country.
They are therefore drawing the attention of the government and Ghana Cocoa Board to the fact that cocoa farmers are not receiving payments from LBC’s and in some instance some LBC’s are paying the old price, so if government is committed to helping the business grow, then immediate action should be taken for the release of seed fund for the farmers. It has been 3 weeks now since the reopening of the season. Farmers are ready to sell their cocoa to Ivory Coast since theirs price is higher than Ghana price.
Contacts of spokespersons
Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA), Nana Yaa Asantewaa:
0243355737
Coalition for Cocoa Sector Reforms, Mr Ayisi Kumah: 0249208409/0204953449
Obaatampa Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union,
Mr Frank Aduhene : 0249362211.
WASSA Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union,
Nana Boachie :0242531138.
Dormaaman Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union , Papa Kwame: 0244717804.
Upper Dwira North Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union,
Nana Ankomah: 0275001148.
ORGhana National Cocoa Farmers Association(GNACOFA) president, Mr Stephenson Anane Boateng: 024 636 3397.
WASSA Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union president, Nana Acampong:
0243852751.
Safwi Cooperative Union president,
Aboagye Ntori 0240731395
Tarkwa Cooperative Union president,
Nana Addo Tei 0242562884
