The Minority in Parliament has criticised the government over what it describes as the continued failure to pay cocoa farmers despite recent adjustments to the producer price of the commodity.
According to the caucus, farmers are yet to receive payments even after the government announced the release of GH₵855 million to clear arrears owed to them.
Speaking during the debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) presented by President John Dramani Mahama, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, said the situation was deeply unfair to cocoa farmers who depend on timely payments for their livelihoods.
Mr. Opoku argued that the government has been inconsistent with its pricing and payment commitments to farmers.
“They are finding all manner of reasons as to why they cannot pay the cocoa farmer. They promised GH₵6,000, it turned out to be 419. They increased the price from GH₵31,000 to GH₵36,000, but they didn’t pay. Now they have slashed it to GH₵2,587, and even that, they are not paying,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) currently owes Licensed Buying Companies more than GH₵11 billion, a situation he said is worsening payment delays to farmers.
Mr. Opoku noted that the scale of the debt raises serious concerns about how quickly farmers will receive what they are owed, warning that slow repayments could stretch over a long period.
The Minority is therefore urging the government to prioritise clearing the arrears to ensure cocoa farmers are not further disadvantaged.
