The National Association of Cocoa Farmers has highlighted some core issues they would want Dr. Randy Abbey, the newly appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and other officials to address.
National President for the Association, Stepenson Anane Boateng lamented that when policymakers and officials are taking decisions or planning policies that will affect cocoa farmers, they don’t consult them.
“One of our major challenges that is so crucial is that when policymakers are making decisions about the cocoa sector, they don’t consult cocoa farmers. That is problematic, and that is why we want it to change. Even if they don’t consult us and they deal with our challenges, we would not have complained, but they don’t also address our challenges,” he stated on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM.
He also expressed concern over the selection process of cocoa farmers to represent them on cocoa-related issues such as the National Awards Scheme.
“We are not informed of the processes involved in the selection of cocoa farmers to represent our interests. Our Members of Parliament are not just selected anyhow. They were not selected on the streets and sent to parliament to formulate laws for us. They were elected, and so we also expect that when it comes to our issues and selection for any cocoa-related issues, the acceptable criteria must be used, and we must ensure that only qualified persons are selected. We should not politicise the process and select people who have no knowledge of cocoa farming. We want people with expertise that will help transform our sectors.
After they have selected the award winners, you don’t hear about them again. These are the reasons why we don’t see the authenticity in the processes, and that must change. We also want persons appointed to deal with our sector-related issues to be experienced.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
