Aspiring National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate John Dramani Mahama claims that the country’s cocoa sector is on the verge of collapse due to mismanagement by the Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking to party supporters and branch executives at the start of a two-day campaign tour of the Western North Region, Mr. Mahama said the government’s failure to annually adjust the producer price of cocoa and farmers’ delayed payment for cocoa beans are among the factors destroying the sector.
“Under the previous NDC administration, we ensured that there was an upward adjustment in the producer price [of cocoa] every year. But that is not the case with this government. Price adjustments are taking place after four years. This is what is collapsing the sector”, he stated.
Mr. Mahama went on to say that the sector needed to be supported, noting that some farmers no longer find farming cocoa profitable.
He mentioned a farmer who stated that he will sell his land for galamsey because the returns are far superior to farming.
“He doesn’t mind selling his farm for galamsey because there’s no profit from the cocoa business today. Payment of farmers for cocoa purchases is no longer instant and they do not get any bonus. Farmers must now wait for three to four months to receive payment”, he added.
The former president has visited all nine constituencies in the region and is scheduled to visit the Ashanti Region next.
