Gov’t Committed To Cocoa Farmers’ Welfare

By Zulaihatu Abubakar

Government will remain committed to paying producer prices for cocoa that will not leave Ghana’s hard-working cocoa farmers worse off.

Despite the challenges facing the crop globally as a result of rising costs and declining world commodity prices that had given rise to concerns for sustainability, the government would ensure that adequate prices were paid for cocoa.

This was disclosed by the President, John Dramani Mahama, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Seth Terkper, at this year’s Ghana Cocoa Festival, under the theme: “Cocoa Consumption for a Healthier Nation”, held in Accra on Tuesday 1st October 2013.

Cocoa industry, the Ghanaian president noted, provides direct employment to more than 800,000 farm-families and about 2 million jobs to both Ghanaians and foreign nationals living Ghana, directly and indirectly.

CODAPEC is a national cocoa diseases and pests control programme initiated by government in the 2001/2002 cocoa season.

He implores all stakeholders in the country to accept future appeals for sacrifice in order to achieve sustainability goals.

“Already, stakeholders have put forward a proposal urging government to begin a gradual withdrawal from CODAPEC and Hi-tech programs and replace it with a scheme that guarantees the continuous supply and access to cocoa farming inputs.

Proponents of the proposal have supported it with sound economic reasons that withdrawal of subsidies for the two programs was necessary for a sustainable industry.

“I wish to assure all stakeholders that my government would evaluate the proposal with objectivity, especially, as it borders on sustainability with implications for economic development and take the appropriate decisions for implementation”, he added.

President John Mahama has said that, the government under his tenure has recognized the invaluable contribution of the cocoa industry to economic growth.

He said, at the current producer price level of GH¢3,392.00 per ton, the nominal income that farm-families realize from cocoa is GH¢2.9 billion.

 “Government will, therefore, support the efforts of COCOBOD to promote sustainable livelihoods in cocoa communities in order to achieve the industry’s sustainability goals”; The President added.

In view of that, he disclosed the continual support for ongoing initiatives, such as the farmers’ scholarship scheme, solar street-light projects in remote communities, the provision of good drinking water and the development of road and health infrastructure.

President Mahama, urged all parents in cocoa growing areas to enroll their children in schools, revealing that, they had equal responsibility as parents in other employment categories to enroll their wards in schools.

“The international community, cocoa consumers and civil society are watching from different angles the efforts we are making today to secure our children’s future. Let us be mindful that an educated society is the bedrock of development and Ghana cannot afford to play the ostrich”, he concluded.

The Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of COCOBOD, Mr. Anthony Fofie, addressing the gathering also said scientific studies by distinguished researchers including Professor Kweku Addai of the University of Ghana Medical School, have shown that cocoa contains active ingredients that fight against diseases infections in the body.

He suggested the increment of per capita cocoa consumption from the paltry 0.5kg. This he said, will stimulate the establishment of small-scale industrial units to create jobs for the youth and enhance the long-term sustainability of the cocoa sector.

“Drinking cocoa means enhancing the health of our people and creating jobs, let us sustain the cocoa industry. Let us drink cocoa today and everyday”, Mr. Fofie advised.

The Secretary General of COPAL, Dr. Paul Nanga Coulibaly, noted that, although the 10-member country alliance produced about 75 per cent of the world’s cocoa, only about 20 per cent was processed.

According to him, Ghana as the second largest producer, harvests over 825,000 tons of cocoa annually, only about 220,000 tonnes is processed.

In a related development, the National Chief Farmer, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, also expressed his gratitude to the government for stabilizing the producer price for cocoa.

As part of this year’s festival, three individuals received awards for their contribution to the cocoa industry.

They were: Mr. Samuel Tobi, who was announced the “Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer for 2013”; Mr. Godwin Sogbor, “Best Researcher into Benefits of Cocoa” and, Mr. Kwame McJoseph (Rite FM – Somanya), “Best Journalist for the Promotion of the Benefits of Cocoa”.

They were awarded with plaques, undisclosed sums of money and some cocoa products.