By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Management of the Ghana Cocoa Board, COCOBOD, has reported to the various state investigation organizations to scrutinize the application of a $263 M World Bank loan contracted by the institution to purposely rehabilitate moribund and diseased cocoa farms and irrigation systems for cocoa production in the country.
According to the new Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Randy Abbey, even though the total loan facility was meant to rehabilitate 156 thousand hectares of cocoa farms with the long term objective of improving and sustaining Ghana’s cocoa productivity, only 40 thousand hectares of the earmarked farms were attended to yet the Board is saddled with huge debts.
Dr. Abbey made this known at Nkawie in the Ashanti region when he interacted with cocoa farmers to commemorate this year’s International Labour Day.
Nkawie in the Ashanti region is one of the major cocoa producing districts in the country and also faced with myriads of challenges, including destruction of cocoa farms for other economic reasons such as illegal mining.
It was therefore considered worthwhile that the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Abbey, accompanied by some senior management staff of the cocoa regulatory organization paid a day’s working visit to the area.
COCOBOD’s team met and interacted with farmers from Nkawie and the surrounding communities, which together, constitute the cocoa district.
Dr. Abbey disclosed that, when he assumed office, records showed that only 40 thousand of moribund and diseases cocoa farms had been replanted.
“I’m saddened by what has happened because it was a golden opportunity to turn things around in the sector because if we’d successfully done this 156, 000 hectares, we’d have contributed a Minimum of 156, 000 tons to our production. But, we took all this money, $263 M and another GHC700 M and all we’ve to show for is 40, 000 hectares”, the CEO lamented.
This is why his outfit has petitioned the state investigative machinery to establish all the facts to ensure proper accountability.
The Chief Executive was frank with the farmers that, the organization is seriously financially challenged as it is saddled with huge debts.
“People keep complaining about the quality of cocoa roads. Our records show that COCOBOD awarded contracts to the tune of GHC 21 Bn but COCOBOD is not the Ministry of Roads. COCOBOD cannot pay this sum even in 10 years. Currently, Contractors have raised Certificates amounting to GHC4Bn we need to pay but there’s no money to Honour them though they’ve done the work. It would be easy for me to give promises to tickle you but, sincerely, there’s no money to implement any such promise.”
He disclosed that, even though the government, through COCOBOD, has laudable and lofty progressive plans but now faced with financial difficulties.
Dr. Abbey has however assured cocoa farmers to be patient with the government as measures are being put in place to cater for their welfare and sustain Ghana’s cocoa productivity.
The farmers had the opportunity to seek official responses to their production and welfare concerns.
“We want increment in the prices for our produce, cutlasses and Wellington boot, and also to help us maintain our farms. These will help us to improve upon our yield to earn much income. The galamsey issue is drawing our production backward”, a female farmer from Nkawie Panin said.
On his part, a male farmer said, “the meeting is laudable but I wish I could have the opportunity to share ideas with the CEO. We accept the message he brought especially about the assurance to increase producer price. We hope the increment would be satisfactory to match what the previous government was doing. One of our major concerns is the late supply of the agro chemical. Not all of us can afford the price of the chemical on the open market. We plead with government to increase the allowance for the mass spraying gangs too to motivate them to live up to expectations.”
