Source: newsthemegh.com
The country’s cocoa industry, according to National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama, is in danger of collapsing due to government mismanagement.
At the start of a two-day campaign tour of the Western North Region, Mr. Mahama spoke to party supporters and branch executives. He claimed that other factors that led to the sector’s demise included the government’s failure to annually adjust the producer price of cocoa and the delay in paying farmers for their cocoa beans.
“We made sure that the producer price for cocoa was adjusted upward each year while the NDC was in power. But with this regime, that is not the case. After four years, there are price changes. This is what is bringing the industry to an end, he said.
The sector needs support, according to Mr. Mahama, who also points out that some farmers no longer believe producing cocoa to be profitable.
He made reference to a farmer who claimed that he would sell his land for galamsey since the profits would be far higher than those from farming.
He doesn’t mind giving up his farm for galamsey because the cocoa industry is currently losing money. Farmers are no longer paid instantly and do not receive bonuses for their purchases of cocoa. Now, farmers must wait three to four months to get paid,” he continued.
The former president is touring the region’s nine constituencies and is scheduled to go on to the Ashanti Region.