Cocoa farmers have accused some officers of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) of being concerned in non-public cocoa buying actions, saying they’re undermining confidence in Ghana’s cocoa sector and distorting truthful competitors.
This concern was raised by the Ghana Nationwide Cocoa Farmers Affiliation (GNACOFA) throughout the conclusion of a strategic partnership settlement with Produce Buying Firms (PBCs) geared toward supporting the rehabilitation of struggling cocoa buying corporations and enhancing the welfare of cocoa farmers.
Talking on behalf of the affiliation, GNACOFA President Stevenson Annan Boateng mentioned persistent challenges corresponding to cocoa smuggling, unlawful mining on cocoa farms and delayed funds to farmers proceed to threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa trade.
“There are issues that civil servants, significantly inside COCOBOD, are concerned in non-public takeover actions that undermine confidence within the sector,” he mentioned.
The affiliation says such practices scale back transparency throughout the cocoa worth chain and create unfair situations for reliable market contributors and farmers.
“These points proceed to distort Ghana’s cocoa enterprise, penalizing actual cocoa farmers and creating alternatives for monetary fraud,” the group careworn.
The remarks come as Ghana’s cocoa sector faces declining manufacturing ranges, liquidity challenges and elevated strain on licensed buying corporations, all of which proceed to affect farmer incomes and operations throughout the trade.
GNACOFA mentioned the partnership with PBC goals to revive confidence within the cocoa enterprise and reposition the corporate as a stronger and extra dependable participant throughout the sector.
“This partnership marks an necessary milestone in making certain the sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa enterprise, whereas supporting the revival and restoration of the PBC as a powerful establishment within the cocoa sector,” the affiliation mentioned.
