Amid public criticism accusing the government, via the Ghana Cocoa Board, of undercutting cocoa farmers in cocoa bean pricing, COCOBOD’s Public Relations Officer, Fiifi Boafo, has refuted these allegations.
Boafo stated that Ghanaian cocoa farmers receive $47 more per tonne compared to their Ivorian counterparts.
Speaking on Citi TV’s Point of View program, Boafo emphasized that the government did not exploit cocoa farmers when it announced an increase in farmgate prices for cocoa beans.
“The difference between how much Ghana is paying cocoa farmers, and the Ivorians are paying cocoa farmers, we’re paying $47 more to our Ghanaian farmers compared to Ivorian farmers,” he said.
He added that, “the people who told us to replicate what the Ivorians have done now say that what we have done is wrong and we are cheating the cocoa farmers. If I’m asked to do something someone is doing and I do the same, do you accuse me of doing the wrong thing, no.”
The Public Relations Officer of COCOBOD also highlighted that the government has consistently provided cocoa farmers with an improved producer price over the years.
He referenced benefits such as fertilizer subsidies that Ghanaian cocoa farmers receive during the crop season.
“Last year [2023] due to the exchange rate, the Ivorians’ price got better than Ghana’s. But the government in the last 7 years, with the exception of last year [2023] has paid better price to cocoa farmers as compared to the Ivorian counterparts,” Mr Boafo stated.
“In Cote D’Ivoire, there’s nothing like cooling down periods for cocoa farmers. There’s nothing like a subsidized fertilizer given to cocoa farmers. All interventions COCOBOD is giving to farmers in Ghana, the Ivorian counterparts are not enjoying same,” he added.
The price of cocoa beans has been increased from GH¢20,928 per tonne to GH¢33,120.00 for the remainder of the 2023/2024 cocoa season.
COCOBOD has stated that the raise aims to improve the income of cocoa farmers and deter the smuggling of cocoa beans to neighboring countries.
However, some Ghanaians, including cocoa farmers, have expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the 58 percent increment is insufficient.