Eric Opoku, Member of Parliament for the Asunafo South Constituency, criticized the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, arguing that no government has fairly distributed cocoa revenue to cocoa farmers.
He accused the government of shortchanging cocoa farmers despite the recent price increase.
Cocoa farmers nationwide are expressing dissatisfaction with the newly announced farmgate prices for cocoa beans.
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) declared a 58.26 percent rise, setting the price at GH¢33,120 cedis per ton for the 2023/2024 crop season.
COCOBOD claims this decision aims to share the benefits of high global cocoa prices and deter cocoa bean smuggling.
Hon. Eric Opoku emphasized that cocoa belongs to the farmers, and the government merely assists in selling it. Therefore, the government shouldn’t take the lion’s share of cocoa revenue from the international market.
LISTEN TO ERIC OPOKU IN THIS AUDIO:
During an interview with Emmanuel Martey on Ahotor 92.3 FM‘s Simpieso, the Asunafo South legislator highlighted that cocoa alone contributes 2 billion Ghana cedis to Ghana’s revenue. He argued that if proper measures were in place, the government wouldn’t need to seek 3 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
LISTEN TO ERIC OPOKU AGAIN IN THIS AUDIO:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites) / Ahotoronline.com
