Cocoa Farmers Demand Inclusion in Economic Plan Policy

The National President of the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA), Mr. Stephenson Anane Boateng, has made a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama and the Agric Ministry to involve cocoa farmers in the economic plan policy. This call to action comes after the Finance Minister, Hon. Ato Baah Cassiel Forson, revealed that the cocoa sector owes a staggering 32 billion Ghana cedis, equivalent to 1.3 billion US dollars.

Mr. Anane emphasized that cocoa farmers will not benefit from this year’s budget due to the debt owed by the cocoa sector. He expressed concerns that the entire cocoa seeds income for this year may not be enough to pay off the debt. “Market women will not pay the debt for us, so the government must include us in every decision and policy regarding the cocoa sector,” he asserted.

The Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association is seeking a more inclusive approach to economic planning, ensuring that cocoa farmers have a seat at the table. By involving farmers in the decision-making process, the government can tap into their expertise and create policies that benefit both the cocoa sector and the national economy.