Cocoa farmers ‘threaten’ government

The Coalition of Cocoa Farmers have threatened to embark on a strike action on March 6, should government fail to pay monies owed them.

The threat by the coalition follows a promise by the Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, to have the debts settled during his Parliamentary Vetting last week.

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According to the Food and Agriculture Minister-designate, monies have been secured to settle the $190 million debts owed cocoa farmers across the country for cocoa beans supplied to Licensed Buying Companies for the 2020/2021 season.

Payments of the debts, he noted, would commence early this week.

The coalition is therefore urging government to deliver on its promise to make payments starting this week to avoid a demonstration against it during the celebration of the country’s Independence Day on March 6, 2021.

The debt owed LBCs and cocoa farmers was brought to light by Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, Kofi Adams, on the floor of Parliament when he raised concerns about COCOBOD’s indebtedness to some LBCs for cocoa supplied by farmers.

COCOBOD, following the concerns raised by Mr Adams, promised to fast track processes to secure its last tranche of the cocoa syndicated loan to settle debts owed farmers and LBCs in the country.