President of the Concerned Farmers Association, Oboadie Nana Boateng Bonsu, has demanded apology from COCOBOD over the new pricing for cocoa announced by the President.

According to him, COCOBOD blatantly disregarded the input of cocoa farmers in the buildup to arriving at a decision on the pricing for their produce. To this end, he questioned COCOBOD, whether cocoa farmers and Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs) which represent cocoa farmers in the country were consulted.

Mr Bonsu indicated that during the new price launched, majority of the FBOs were not invited to the program, which he reckons is “disrespectful” on the part of COCOBOD.

I think what COCOBOD did, we the farmers need an apology for that, and next time, they don’t have to do that because they don’t own any farm. It is we that own the farms, all the stress and other things that we are going through, it is we.”
Oboadie Nana Boateng Bonsu

Lamenting the detriorating state of the cocoa sector, Mr Bonsu questioned what the intervention of COCOBOD has been in salvaging the situation. He noted that the only solution the Board could offer was that the situation “was a land tenure system” problem.

“It is we the concerned farmers that move around, mobilize the farmers across the country on the [need to protect cocoa farms]. COCOCBOD did nothing about it. So, it is very sad that we’re fighting for this thing and at the end who enjoys it? It is COCOBOD that enjoys it. What do we have as cocoa farmers?”
Oboadie Nana Boateng Bonsu

Furthermore, Mr Bonsu bemoaned the poor infrastructure, lack of healthcare facilities and schools within villages where most farmers cultivate their lands. He further criticized the COCOBOD for being aloof to the plight of farmers.

“When you’re sending your son to the farm, they say it’s child labor… So, there’s something that I think COCOBOD should address because now the way things are going, Ghana has lost its cocoa. I’m sorry to say that Ghana, we don’t even have cocoa – only few cocoa trees are left. The rest that we see, all the cocoa trees have been sold, very soon they’ll cut all.”
Oboadie Nana Boateng Bonsu

Commenting on the new pricing for cocoa, Mr Bonsu expressed suprise at the meagre sum being given to farmers. He stated that he expected the price to “jump up to GHC2,500 or even GHC3,000”. He explained that considering the international market of cocoa pod, it makes sense to offer farmers that much.

“… Let us ask COCOBOD how much the price of a pod on the international market is. A cocoa pod cost $12.99 – so, if cocoa pod cost $12.99, let us ask them how many seeds make a pod… We have almost 345 and 450 trees that is an acre and for a tree, you can get up to 70 pods on it.
“Let’s sit down and see the kind of money that you will get as a cocoa farmer if you’re supposed to sell the cocoa on your own. But now, it’s government that has the right to do all these things and we’ve given that respect to them.”
Oboadie Nana Boateng Bonsu

Moreover, the President of the Concerned Farmers Association revealed that the intervention, welfare and other things that cocoa farmers are supposed to get which is constitutional, are not given. In light of this, he noted that the GHC1,300 offered by government will not do anything, and will equally not prevent smugglers from smuggling their cocoa.

“Farmers have been cheated for so long, so if you are piling these monies for so many years and giving peanuts for them at this time, you’ve done absolutely nothing. As I’m speaking to you, there’s no cocoa in the country, majority of the cocoa have been destroyed and now, the farmers have even converted their cocoa farms to rubber plantations, others are also doing galamsey and they are making more money than this GHC1,300 per bag you’re talking about….”
Oboadie Nana Boateng Bonsu