The Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Abetifi constituency, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has revealed that the Akufo-Addo-led government in the coming weeks will announce measures put in place to revamp COCOBOD.
Dr. Acheampong also noted that since assuming office as minister, the ministry has had several engagements with stakeholders and the cabinet to improve the livelihood of cocoa farmers.
“There have been challenges in the cocoa production sector in recent years and the President has spelt out his vision for the sector in the next years”.
The minister made this known in an interview with Kwame Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s morning show.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong mentioned that there is a turn-around strategy that has been approved by the cabinet and is being implemented by COCOBOD, adding that the three major challenges facing the cocoa production sector are being considered in this strategy.
According to the minister, the challenges of cocoa roads, cocoa bills, and Bui dam payment have contributed and continue to contribute to the downfall of COCOBOD.
The new strategies the government is putting in place, Dr. Bryan Acheampong said, when fully implemented, will benefit cocoa farmers in terms of cocoa prices and make cocoa production attractive again.
Commenting on the challenges, he added that cocoa roads across the countries are being rationalized to get some fixed to enable farmers to transport their produce to the cities.
“Again, another important part of the COCOBOD turnaround strategy is the monies paid to cocoa farmers”, Dr. Acheampong said.
He mentioned that since the 1990s, cocoa farmers have not been treated fairly in terms of payment, adding that President Akufo-Addo has plans to change the narrative.
Emphasizing the payment, he mentioned that farmers will receive the approved percentages on the world market and not what COCOBOD deems fit for them.
