Reduction in Cocoa Price: Farmers call it scam; Industry Watchers Urge Farmers to Take Mahama Gov’t to Court
Some industry watchers in the cocoa sector have urged cocoa farmers take the Mahama government to court for giving them a haircut by reducing the producer price of cocoa.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, at a news conference in Accra on Thursday, February 12, announced that, with immediate effect, the producer price of cocoa has been reduced from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per bag.
They accused the government of scamming cocoa farmers, describing the GH¢1,038 reduction as terribly dangerous and a huge disincentive to farmers.
Industry players who spoke to The Thunder after the news conference said it is important for the law to be tested on the matter.
Information gathered from cocoa-growing areas indicates that cocoa farmers are fuming with rage, insisting that the NDC government has treated them with disrespect.
The coming days are going to be interesting, as the signs are clear that the reduction will be met with demonstrations from cocoa farmers.
Western North farmers angry
Angry cocoa farmers in the Western North Region have meanwhile accused the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) of misleading them, claiming officials visited the region in January to assure them that the producer price would not be reduced, regardless of declines on the world market.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s afternoon show, Ekosiisen, one of the farmers said, “Now, they have deceived us. This is a scam, and we will not forgive this government.”
