The Ghana National Association of Cocoa Farmers has lamented low earnings amid high prices on the world market.
According to the Association, despite the fact that global cocoa market prices have reached new highs, Ghanaian farmers are struggling to make ends meet.
Members of the association claimed that the pricing by the government has left several cocoa farmers frustrated and hopeless.
President of the Association, Stephenson Anane Boateng said cocoa farmers have been cheated for far too long.
He argued that, per the world price, farmers should be receiving more.
He informed Kwabena Agyapong, host of Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, that the latest increment for which the government wishes to be praised is nothing short of awful.
He stated that there is a long-established mechanism that limits farmers, making them sell only to COCOBOD, which then trades that product on the global market.
He said they cannot trade with external buyers and thus lack control over their own pricing.
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), which regulates the cocoa sector, recently announced a new privilege for cocoa.
A statement issued said “the increase in the producer price of cocoa has become necessary to enhance the income of cocoa farmers.”
From the previous rate of 20,928 Ghanaian cedis per tonnene, COCOBOD announced Ghc 33,120 per tonnene, which translates to 2,070 cedis per bag of cocoa with a gross weight of 64 kilogrammes.
But another member of the association by the name of Johnson Sieh (Cocoa Farmers, Ellembelle District) disclosed that COCOBOD is not representing their interests but cheating them.
He stated that when you visit Cameroon, cocoa farmers receive Ghc7,000 per bag for their cocoa beans; the same is true for cocoa farmers in Nigeria and Togo, highlighting that when you compare these countries, you will notice that Ghanaian cocoa farmers receive the lowest amount in terms of cocoa prices. Our cocoa is the greatest and finest in the sub-region and the world, yet we get paid only GHc2,070 per bag. That’s cheating. That is the first thing I want to discuss.
The other point is that cocoa farmers don’t have control over pricing because COCOBOD buys the cocoa, sells it on the world market, and gives us something. Ghanaian cocoa farmers don’t make any profits but record losses. That is why some cocoa farmers are abandoning their cocoa farms and going to maize farming. We know the hard work we put into the work we do, but we don’t make any profits. It would be prudent for us to go into the ‘Okada’ business or ‘paa oo paa’ instead of wasting our time as cocoa farmers,” he said.
The National President also added that the issue of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is affecting cocoa farming in several cocoa-growing communities.
COCOBOD, he claimed, has failed to take measures to address this challenge.
The activities of illegal miners, he noted, are destroying or have destroyed several cocoa farms across the country.
“To add to what he said, we are struggling as cocoa farmers in spite of our hard work. We get little value for the quality of work we do. The other challenge is illegal mining and its impact on cocoa farming. Some illegal miners are destroying farms with their illegal activities, and yet the government looks on. Some people are destroying our ways with impunity, but our leaders lack the political will to deal with the canker.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
