The Minority in Parliament has accused government of destroying the business of cocoa farmers in the country with unfavourable deals.
Government has decided not to increase the cocoa producer pricee due to a decline in the world market price. A decision the minority believes is not in the interest of local farmers.
Addressing the press in Accra, Minority spokesperson on Agriculture and Cocoa, Eric Opoku said government must rather make use of the cocoa stabilization fund established by the previous government to support farmers.
"We wish to state that the Chief Executive Officer of Cocoa Board, is not supposed to determine the producer price of cocoa for farmers, it is the duty of the producer price review committee…taking into consideration, several factors including the economic conditions prevailing in the country in order not to inflict untold hardships on cocoa farmers,"he stated.
He also called on the CEO of the Cocoa Board, to allow the committee which has since 1984 discharged its duties effectively and efficiently to continue its work without any form of interference.
Mr. Opoku also accused government of cheating farmers by charging GHC80 per bag for fertilizers purchased with cocoa funds.
"Surprisingly, the NPP government has replaced the free fertilization program with the program under which farmers pay GHC80 for a bag of fertilizer. This is unacceptable and we cannot allow government to cheat our farmers. Under the free fertilization program, the farmer was entitled to fertilizers for free, “he stressed.
He therefore urged government to revise its measures to ensure that cocoa farmers across the country, have the right inputs are affordable prices to remain in business.