You have destroyed cocoa sector, farmers now selling their lands to galamseyers – Mahama tells Akufo-Addo

Former President John Dramani Mahama has accused the Akufo-Addo-led government of destroying the cocoa sector of the Ghanaian economy.

Mr Mahama indicated that cocoa farmers used to be paid instantly during the era of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) whenever they sold their cocoa.

But, he said, it now takes the farmers three months to receive their cash.

Also, he added, the farmers no longer enjoy free fertilizer as they used to during the period of the NDC.

These factors have negatively impacted the cocoa business, Mr Mahama said during his campaign tour of the Western North Region on Tuesday April 25 to be elected flagbearer of the NDC.

The 2020 presidential candidate of the NDC said “every year, we adjusted the producer prices for cocoa but currently, the government does little adjustment once in four years, this has affected the cocoa business badly, it is no longer lucrative.

“Cocoa farmers are now selling their lands to galamseyers because it is no longer profitable, it takes the farmers three months for them to get their funds when they sell their cocoa but under the NDC it was instant payment. We also gave cocoa farmers fertilizers free of charge.”

Source: 3news.com