The Director of the Presidential Initiative in Agriculture and Agri-Business at the Office of the President, Peter Boamah Otokunor, has criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP), saying the party should be the last to comment on cocoa-related matters in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Dr. Otokunor accused the NPP of contributing to the challenges facing the cocoa sector.
According to him, cocoa farmers are appreciative of steps being taken by President John Dramani Mahama to improve the industry. He argued that members of the NPP who are criticising current cocoa policies lack practical knowledge of cocoa farming.
“They cannot act like saints. If anyone should talk about cocoa pricing issues, it should not be the NPP. Who caused it?” he questioned.
Dr. Otokunor further alleged that when the NPP assumed office under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, several benefits introduced for farmers during Mahama’s previous administration were withdrawn. He claimed cocoa prices were not increased until 2021, following public backlash, despite favorable international pricing conditions at the time.
He also stated that farmers were receiving only 25 percent of the Free On Board (FOB) price, a situation the National Democratic Congress (NDC) opposed.
Dr. Otokunor maintained that the most appropriate benchmark for cocoa pricing should be based on international market prices to ensure fairness to farmers.
“Akuffo-Addo didn’t increase cocoa prices until 2021, even after several public backlashes. At that time, the pricing was favorable, and they could have paid cocoa farmers three times what they were paying them. They were giving the farmers only 25% of the FOB price, and that was when we, the NDC, opposed it. We are saying that the best pricing index should be the international price,” he said.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
