Mr Sarfo Mensah-Mensah, popularly known as Booba, a former Member of Parliament for the Asunafo North Constituency, Best Farmer for Asutifi North, and an aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ahafo Regional Chairman, has raised serious concerns over what he describes as an unprecedented crisis at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), warning that the situation is challenging severe hardship on cocoa farmers.
According to Mr Mensah-Mensah, this is the first time he has witnessed such a development since his time in Parliament, where cocoa farmers are unable to sell their produce due to an apparent lack of funds in the system.
He noted that licensed buying companies, largely linked to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), are claiming they do not have money to purchase cocoa from farmers.
“This is something I have never seen before,” he stated, stressing that farmers now have cocoa ready for sale but no buyers.
He explained that the situation has become dire for many cocoa-growing families, as farmers are struggling to meet basic needs, including paying their children’s school fees. With cocoa as their primary source of income, the inability to sell their produce has left many households in distress.
Mr Mensah-Mensah also revealed that farmers are facing a shortage of cocoa sacks used to package their produce, a situation he said has contributed to increased smuggling activities in border towns as desperate farmers seek alternative markets.
“Most cocoa farmers have no other alternative livelihood,” he lamented, adding that while there is a lot of cocoa available, the absence of buyers has brought untold pain to farmers.
He further expressed concern that, despite the gravity of the situation, no official from COCOBOD or government authorities has come out to clearly explain what is happening or outline measures being taken to address the crisis.
Mr Mensah-Mensah is therefore calling for urgent intervention to restore confidence in the cocoa sector and provide relief to suffering farmers, warning that continued silence could worsen the hardship in cocoa-growing communities.
By: Justina Ekua Kwofie/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
