The management of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has refuted the notion of a collapsing cocoa industry by former President John Mahama.
According to the cocoa regulator, such statements are misleading and detrimental to a vital sector like cocoa, which forms the foundation of Ghana’s economy.
In a statement, it put on record and assured the general public that the cocoa industry is not collapsing as being portrayed by the former President.
The Former President made these statements while touring the Western North Region, claiming the producer price and mismanagement have collapsed the cocoa sector. Mr. Mahama justified farmers giving their cocoa farms to illegal mining due to low remuneration.
“Management of COCOBOD refutes the notion of a collapsing cocoa industry. Such statements are misleading and detrimental to a vital sector like cocoa, which forms the foundation of Ghana’s economy. We, therefore, wish to use the opportunity to make some clarifications and also set the records straight”.
It explained that the country recorded its highest ever cocoa production volume of over one million in the 2020/21 Crop Season. Thus, a cocoa industry which holds the position as the second highest producer in the world cannot also be said to have collapsed.
It continued that COCOBOD continues to invest in interventions which will ensure not just the sustenance but the growth of the industry.
For the first time in the history of the industry, COCOBOD said it is enrolling cocoa farmers across the country onto the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme to ensure a decent retirement.
It therefore remains committed to supporting farmers and ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa industry, and we will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to achieve our goals.
Galamsey menace
On Galamsey, COCOBOD said though it is widely acknowledged that Galamsey operations pose a significant danger to that nation, and any attempts to justify or rationalise the conversion of a piece of land, especially a cocoa farm, into a Galamsey site, like the former President sought to do, must be met with contempt
“This menace has the potential to negate all the investments made by the government to modernise cocoa farming and improve productivity. It is, therefore, crucial that prominent figures in our society exercise caution when making public statements that rationalise cocoa farmers trading their farms for temporary monetary benefit through illegal mining”, it added.
Cocoa producer price
COCOBOD also placed on record that the former President’s statement regarding the increase in cocoa producer prices every year during his administration is inaccurate, since the records available point to the opposite.
“Specifically, there was no upward adjustment of the producer price of cocoa in the 2012/2013 Crop Season. Similarly, the producer price of the preceding season was maintained for the 2015/2016 Crop Season, with no upward adjustment. Indeed, within a three-year period of the former President’s administration, i.e. the 2010/2011 to 2012/2013 crop season, there was a total of six% increase in the producer price”, it emphasized.
In contrast, COCOBOD said within the last three years, there has been a 23%, 0% and a 21% increase in the producer price of cocoa, adding “it is important to note that the producer price is largely determined by international market prices as well as other industry costs, and every effort is made to arrive at a producer price that is fair to farmers even when international market conditions are unfavourable”.
COCOBOD refutes Mahama’s notion cocoa industry is collapsing
The management of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has refuted the notion of a collapsing cocoa industry by former President John Mahama.
According to the cocoa regulator, such statements are misleading and detrimental to a vital sector like cocoa, which forms the foundation of Ghana’s economy.
In a statement, it put on record and assured the general public that the cocoa industry is not collapsing as being portrayed by the former President.
The Former President made these statements while touring the Western North Region, claiming the producer price and mismanagement have collapsed the cocoa sector. Mr. Mahama justified farmers giving their cocoa farms to illegal mining due to low remuneration.
“Management of COCOBOD refutes the notion of a collapsing cocoa industry. Such statements are misleading and detrimental to a vital sector like cocoa, which forms the foundation of Ghana’s economy. We, therefore, wish to use the opportunity to make some clarifications and also set the records straight”.
It explained that the country recorded its highest ever cocoa production volume of over one million in the 2020/21 Crop Season. Thus, a cocoa industry which holds the position as the second highest producer in the world cannot also be said to have collapsed.
It continued that COCOBOD continues to invest in interventions which will ensure not just the sustenance but the growth of the industry.
For the first time in the history of the industry, COCOBOD said it is enrolling cocoa farmers across the country onto the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme to ensure a decent retirement.
It therefore remains committed to supporting farmers and ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa industry, and we will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to achieve our goals.
Galamsey menace
On Galamsey, COCOBOD said though it is widely acknowledged that Galamsey operations pose a significant danger to that nation, and any attempts to justify or rationalise the conversion of a piece of land, especially a cocoa farm, into a Galamsey site, like the former President sought to do, must be met with contempt
“This menace has the potential to negate all the investments made by the government to modernise cocoa farming and improve productivity. It is, therefore, crucial that prominent figures in our society exercise caution when making public statements that rationalise cocoa farmers trading their farms for temporary monetary benefit through illegal mining”, it added.
Cocoa producer price
COCOBOD also placed on record that the former President’s statement regarding the increase in cocoa producer prices every year during his administration is inaccurate, since the records available point to the opposite.
“Specifically, there was no upward adjustment of the producer price of cocoa in the 2012/2013 Crop Season. Similarly, the producer price of the preceding season was maintained for the 2015/2016 Crop Season, with no upward adjustment. Indeed, within a three-year period of the former President’s administration, i.e. the 2010/2011 to 2012/2013 crop season, there was a total of six% increase in the producer price”, it emphasized.
In contrast, COCOBOD said within the last three years, there has been a 23%, 0% and a 21% increase in the producer price of cocoa, adding “it is important to note that the producer price is largely determined by international market prices as well as other industry costs, and every effort is made to arrive at a producer price that is fair to farmers even when international market conditions are unfavourable”.
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