President of the Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, has voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s recent adjustment of cocoa farmgate prices for the 2023/24 season.
He deems the increase as significantly insufficient, given the strenuous efforts farmers invest in cultivating cocoa, Ghana’s primary foreign exchange earner.
Despite the government’s announcement of a 58.26% increment in cocoa producer prices, which has elicited jubilation among farmers, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu contended that the raise, from GH¢ 20,928 to GH¢ 33,120.00 per metric tonne, falls short of adequately compensating farmers.
The adjustment, effective April 5, 2024, also includes an elevation of the buyers’ margin to GH¢ 2,980.00 per tonne for the same cocoa season.
In a statement issued by the Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the price adjustment is justified as a means to enhance cocoa farmers’ income, aligning with the NPP government’s vision and addressing the escalating cocoa prices in the international market.
However, in an interview with Daakyehene Ofosu Agyemang on New York-based Adinkra Radio, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu criticized the increment, urging the government to truly reward cocoa farmers with a more substantial increase in the producer price.
He disparaged some farmers who lauded the government for the adjustment, labeling them as politically motivated individuals who lack firsthand experience of farming realities.
Moreover, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu highlighted the threat of cocoa smuggling to neighboring countries due to the persistently low pricing of cocoa.
“Some farmers say they have accepted the price because you will get some political farmers like the award winners who are political because they themselves don’t till the land to now how it feels, they have hired people to work for them and so as soon as there is price increase, they put on their cloth and go to the Presidency and thank the President for the increment. But those who are on the field who actually work are not happy with the increment. it is painful, but because we are in an election year, even if you say the truth others will think you are doing politics.
“When cocoa farms were being cut down for illegal mining activities in towns at Atiwa West, what did the COCOBOD do to stop the development. it is we the Concerned Farmers Association that stood up and fought the destruction of cocoa farms. The Dunkwa Chief bears us witness that we met the youth and advised the to go into farming which they did instead of going into galamsey.”
He emphasized the importance of addressing this issue to prevent further economic losses and safeguard the interests of Ghanaian cocoa farmers.