Cocoa producers have threatened to smuggle their product to neighboring countries if the government does not take additional steps to raise cocoa prices.
A bag of cocoa was previously selling for GH660 in Ghana until the government announced yesterday, 5th October, 2022, a 21% increase in the producer price to GH800 for the 2022/2023 cocoa harvest season.
The new price structure is set to go into effect on Friday, October 7, 2022.
However, several cocoa producers are complaining that the new increase is grossly low in comparison to the Ivory Coast, which is estimated to be about ¢858 for the same season.
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Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, President of the Concerned Farmers Association, told Citi News that they are dissatisfied with the current prices and want another price adjustment.
“The government has put in some effort, but this is not enough for us. We were expecting about GH¢1,500 so that we could at least have about GH¢250 for welfare and GH¢1250 in the pocket of the farmer.”
“How can the cocoa farmers decide on a price and then government sit elsewhere and quotes its price without consulting us? There was no dialogue whatsoever. Our farmers are threatening to smuggle their produce to neighbouring countries if there is no further increment in the price.”
SOURCE: CITINEWS
