Cocoa farmers in the Western Region have dismissed government claims that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) owes debts to producers, insisting they will not accept such assertions without verifiable evidence or accountability measures.
The response came during a visit to Woman No Good in the Amenfi West district by Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, who sought to explain reductions to the cocoa producer price.
Dr. Otokunor had previously alleged on Asempa FM that COCOBOD’s debt under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration exceeded its total assets and highlighted concerns over procurement irregularities in cocoa sacks dating back to 2021.
However, farmers led by the local chief rejected the claims outright. “I am standing on behalf of all the cocoa farmers here to tell you that the previous government…did not leave any debt behind. Until you prove it to us by arresting those responsible, we will not believe you,” he declared.
The meeting was part of broader government efforts to clarify policy decisions behind the reduced producer price and address financial management concerns at COCOBOD.
Farmers have increasingly raised issues around pricing, transparency of payments, and the long-term sustainability of cocoa production in Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa exporter.
Government representatives urged farmers to trust ongoing institutional reforms, emphasizing that measure
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