The President of the Ghana National Association of Cocoa Farmers, Mr. Stephenson Anane Boateng, has raised a distressing alarm about the welfare of cocoa farmers in Ghana. According to him, most chief farmers don’t have farms or own only small pieces of land, yet they make decisions on behalf of cocoa farmers using “political farmers” to dictate the affairs of the sector.
Mr. Boateng lamented that despite the constitutional mandate of COCOBOD to provide welfare for cocoa farmers, the institution has fallen short of its responsibilities. He emphasized that the law establishing COCOBOD clearly stipulates that farmers should not sell their cocoa to anyone else, but in return, COCOBOD is supposed to provide for their welfare, including scholarships for their children. However, the reality on the ground paints a different picture.
According to Mr. Boateng, only a small percentage of scholarships – about two out of every hundred – are allocated to farmers’ children, while the rest are used for other purposes. Moreover, the cocoa clinics established across the country to cater to the health needs of cocoa farmers have been hijacked by COCOBOD workers, their families, and even girlfriends, leaving the farmers to suffer without adequate medical care.
The plight of cocoa farmers, who are the backbone of Ghana’s economy, is indeed heart-wrenching. As Mr. Boateng aptly puts it, despite their significant contribution to the nation’s wealth, they are not respected or cared for. The situation calls for urgent attention and reform to ensure that the welfare of cocoa farmers is prioritized and their rights protected.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
