Awal Mohammed Questions Credibility Of COCOBOD

Awal Mohammed has questioned the credibility of recent payment assurances by Ghana Cocoa Board, arguing that the agency’s latest announcement contradicts its earlier claims that cocoa farmer arrears had already been settled.

In a Facebook post, the NPP communicator recalled that in March, COCOBOD’s Head of Public Relations, Jerome K. Sam, announced that Ghc3.1 billion had been released to Licensed Buying Companies to clear outstanding payments owed to farmers.

“However, as of last month, our independent checks indicate that the farmers still have not received their money,” he wrote.

Referring to COCOBOD’s latest announcement of a Ghc2.6 billion release to settle last year’s arrears, Mohammed said, “This latest announcement effectively confirms that all previous claims of clearing these debts between January and now were false.”

He also questioned whether the newly released funds would reach farmers and raised concerns about the approaching cocoa season.

“At this point, we cannot even be certain that this new GH¢2.6 billion will actually reach the farmers. We are barely a month away from the start of the new cocoa season, yet the previous year’s supplies remain unpaid.

“How can COCOBOD successfully fund and buy the upcoming main cocoa season under these conditions?” he as

Mohammed further argued that many farmers had already relied on expensive loans to survive during the delay in payments.

“Even if this money is finally paid, no cocoa farmer will be left with anything. They have already exhausted everything trying to survive on high-interest loans during this long wait,” he said.

He added, “We are playing politics with the livelihood of over four million people.”

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In February this year, the Mighty Minority stated that cocoa farmers had not been paid since November last year.

In response, COCOBOD’s Head of Public Relations,

Jerome K. Sam speaking to Asempa FM on match 6th,claimed that they had released GH¢3.1 billion to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to clear all outstanding arrears.

However, as of last month, our independent checks indicate that the farmers still have not received their money.

Just yesterday, COCOBOD announced yet another release of GH¢2.6 billion specifically to pay off last year’s arrears.

This latest announcement effectively confirms that all previous claims of clearing these debts between January and now were false.

At this point, we cannot even be certain that this new GH¢2.6 billion will actually reach the farmers.

The most alarming part of this situation is that we are barely a month away from the start of the new cocoa season, yet the previous year’s supplies remain unpaid.

How can COCOBOD successfully fund and buy the upcoming main cocoa season under these conditions?

Having grown up in a cocoa-growing community, I can safely tell you that even if this money is finally paid, no cocoa farmer will be left with anything.

They have already exhausted everything trying to survive on high-interest loans during this long wait.

The very day I saw Randy Abbey the CEO of Cocoboard on luxury, brand-new chairs right inside a rural cocoa farm, I knew our sector was in deep trouble.

We are playing politics with the livelihood of over four million people.

These farmers were promised 6000 cedis per bag, today for the first time in the history of this country, the have suffered thousand cedis haircut on each bag.