Cocoa Framers Deserve Better- Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the recently announced increase in cocoa prices as “smoke and mirrors,” noting, “farmers deserve better”.
According to him, farmers are being short-changed by the incumbent government with the announced prices.
“The government’s just-announced increase in the farm-gate price of cocoa is a rip-off of our hardworking cocoa farmers and their families who continue to sustain our economy through their toil.
“With the international market price surging to a 46-year record high of $3,600, the government should have given our cocoa farmers their fair share of the international FOB price,” he reacted to the 63.5% increment in a Facebook page.
Touting his government which left office in 2016’s contribution to the cocoa sector, he emphasized that “Cocoa farmers certainly deserve better!”
“In 2016, my government, in addition to the free fertiliser and free cocoa seedlings programme, gave cocoa farmers 66.06% of the FOB Price of cocoa. This NPP administration should have built on this foundation. They have rather increased the operational expenses of COCOBOD and reduced the international FOB share for the farmers.”
President Akufo-Addo over the weekend announced the decision to increase cocoa gate prices from GHs800 to GHs1,308 for the 2023/2024 season. With this, a tonne of cocoa will sell at 20,943 cedis from 12,800 cedis.
There has been a myriad of reactions to this among Ghanaians and cocoa farmers in particular. Whereas the increase has excited some with commendation flowing for the government, Prosper Mawuga, a cocoa farmer, thinks the decision was influenced by the upcoming general elections.
“In 2016, Cocoa was around ¢600. Until recently it was increased to ¢800. So it took us 6 years to get about ¢200 increment. But this year alone over 60% increment. Why? Can you help me to understand?
“You see, you have kept something that is due me for about 6 years and elections are coming so you are giving it back to me. And you want me to clap for you,” he told opemsuo.com
That notwithstanding, he wishes the price of a bag of cocoa climbs to ¢2000 next year.
