The National Democratic Congress’ Asunafo South MP, Eric Opoku has strongly criticized the allocation of GH¢302 million in the 2024 budget for the purchase of solar torchlights by Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The torchlights are to be distributed free of charge to cocoa farmers across the country.
However, Mr. Opoku is emphasizing that the allocated funds are inappropriate, considering that COCOBOD is currently facing financial constraints and is unable to pay contractors.
“After increasing your own expenditure, your allowances, by 589%. This is how you have expended cocoa farmers money. Mr Speaker, even this year, what is surprising now that we are in crises, everybody is complaining about the state of affairs at COCOBOD. We know COCOBOD is struggling and stumbling. COCOBOD is casting for breath. Mr Speaker, you have provided in your budget that you are going to use 302, 910.00 to purchase torchlights, solar torchlights. Is that your priority at this time . Solar torchlight in your own budget. So you didn’t read the budget, is here. Your own budget you are committing 302.910.00, 3 trillion old cedis to buy solar torchlights at the time that you cannot even pay contractors.” he expressed.
Ahead of the approval of a $803 million loan between COCOBOD and several banks, Mr. Opoku expressed concerns to the Ghanaian parliament on Friday, November 17, 2023, during a debate, stating that COCOBOD was experiencing “reckless mismanagement” in spite of being in a “crisis” and “struggling to survive.”
He claimed that since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took office in 2017, the Board’s chances have been deteriorating.
“We [Mahama government] handed over COCOBOD to them [Akufo-Addo government] in 2017. In 2017, they incurred a loss of GH¢395 million. In 2018, the loss came down to GH¢78.2 million. In 2019, it increased to GH¢320 million. In 2020, it increased to GH¢428 million. In 2021, it is GH¢2.4 billion. In 2022, it jumped to GH¢2.3 billion, yet the Minister [of Food and Agriculture] is saying that COCOBOD is back on track, where he is projecting a loss of GH¢2.6 billion this year, yet you say that this company is on track?”.