The Minority in Parliament is lamenting delays in the payment of cocoa farmers despite a reduction in the producer price of the commodity.
According to the caucus, although the government announced the release of GH₵855 million to settle arrears owed to cocoa farmers, they are yet to receive the funds.
Debating the State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President John Dramani Mahama, the Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, described the situation as unfair.
“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.
“COCOBOD owes the Licensed Buying Companies in excess of GH₵11 billion. This is what the CEO told the committee. So if you are paying GH₵1 million every month, it is going to take over one year for all the farmers to pay.