By: Heritage news online/source:ByStarrfm.com.gh/2024
Leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has attributed the decline in Ghana’s cocoa production in recent times to the current government’s mismanagement of the sector.
Speaking during a meeting with the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs as part of his campaign tour of the area, the NDC flag bearer claimed that most thriving state institutions during his tenure have collapsed due to widespread embezzlement of funds under this regime.
According to him, this has had a significant impact on Ghana’s cocoa production and sales, leading to ongoing arrears and debt.
“Just look at the Cocoa industry, they haven’t been able to manage it well. The amounts of money they went to borrow abroad were embezzled at the headquarters. Last year, the headquarters’ budget was 3.4 billion. And what they don’t appreciate about the cocoa industry is that when cocoa farmers are not well paid, you will be unable to harvest the cocoa beans. The reason is that the farmer has to know cocoa is valuable in order that he can take good care of it.
“But headquarters in embezzling funds at the expense of the suffering cocoa farmer. This has drained the our cocoa sector,” former President Mahama said.
In June this year, COCOBOD announced a decline in cocoa production for the 2023/2024 crop season. Among other reasons, the cocoa board attributed the dip to the ensuing climate crisis.