COCOBOD has refuted claims by former President Mahama that the cocoa sector in Ghana has collapsed. The former President had reportedly claimed that the producer price and mismanagement had led to the collapse of the cocoa sector, thereby justifying farmers giving up their cocoa farms to illegal mining due to low remuneration.
However, COCOBOD has described such statements as misleading and detrimental to the cocoa sector, which forms the foundation of Ghana’s economy.
The management of COCOBOD in a statement reacting to the former President’s claim acknowledged that galamsey operations posed a significant danger to Ghana and argued that any attempts to justify or rationalize the conversion of a cocoa farm into a Galamsey site must be met with contempt.
The management of COCOBOD also stated that the Former President’s statement regarding the increase in cocoa producer prices every year during his administration is inaccurate since records available point to the opposite.
COCOBOD went on to state that the cocoa industry is not collapsing as portrayed by the former President.
The statement said Ghana recorded its highest-ever cocoa production volume in the 2020/2021 Crop Season, adding that COCOBOD continues to invest in interventions that will ensure, not just the sustenance but the growth of the industry, including the Hand Pollination Programme, the Mass PruningProgramme, and the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme.
The statement further said COCOBOD is enrolling cocoa farmers across the country on the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme for the first time in the history of the industry to ensure a decent retirement.
COCOBOD said it remained committed to supporting farmers and ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa industry and called on the public to support its efforts.
