Hon. Isaac Yaw Opoku, the Member of Parliament for Offinso South and Ranking Member of the Food and Agriculture Committee, has challenged the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to publish the names and details of all purchasing clerks and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) that have received payments, alongside the specific amounts involved.
The lawmaker stated that numerous cocoa farmers continue to report that they have not received their dues, despite repeated assurances from the government that disbursements have been made.
He further noted that farmers have already been treated unfairly through the reduction of cocoa prices, and argued that it is unacceptable to intensify their hardship by withholding payments.
Speaking in an interview with Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he maintained that no cocoa farmer would spread falsehoods against the government if they had actually been paid.
Regarding the financial transparency of the sector, the MP remarked: “If the government claims they have released the 11 billion cedis they owed the LBCs, they should publish the details. The LBCs have names, and so it should not be a challenge to publish their details. It is not a classified matter, and so we dare the government to publish the details of all those who have been paid.”
Hon. Isaac Yaw Opoku lamented that farmers have struggled significantly and continue to experience financial difficulties.
Consequently, he has called upon the Ghana Cocoa Board to investigate the matter immediately and come to the rescue of the affected farmers.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana