The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to immediately release GH¢10 billion owed to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to enable them to pay cocoa farmers who have been left in financial distress.
Mr Isaac Yaw Opoku, Ranking Member on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, speaking on behalf of the Caucus, said government’s failure to reimburse the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) had resulted in the Board’s inability to settle its debts to the LBCs.
Mr Opoku, who is also the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Member of Parliament for the Offinso South Constituency, alleged that a serious power struggle between the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD and the Managing Director of the Cocoa Marketing Board had stifled decision-making, with perceived political interference worsening the situation at the top hierarchy of the cocoa sector.
He noted that cocoa farmers had been owed since November last year, leaving many unable to feed their families or purchase medicine for ailing relatives.
The Minority expressed disappointment that government had reneged on its earlier promise to pay GH¢6,000 per bag of cocoa beans, instead settling at GH¢3,625 per bag, and yet was defaulting on even that reduced amount.
Mr Opoku described the situation as dishonest, accusing the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of making “outrageous promises” while in opposition but failing to honour them in government.
The Caucus urged government to act swiftly to avert further hardship among cocoa farmers, stressing that the sector remains the backbone of Ghana’s economy and must not be undermined by political wrangling and delayed payments.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com