Cocoa farmers complain about cheating marketing clerks

The District Manager of the Cocoa Merchant Company at Agona Duakwa in the Central Region, has warned marketing clerks to stop exploiting farmers through the manipulation of weighing scales.

Mr Randy Nkrumah, told Ghana News Agency in an interview at Duakwa, after a general meeting of marketing clerks from licensed cocoa buying companies and other chief farmers in the area.

The meeting was aimed at preparing participants for the opening of the 2014/2015 cocoa season.

It also sought to find solutions to complaints from some chief farmers, that some clerks are manipulating their weighing scales to cheat them.

The District Manager pointed out that it is criminal offence for clerks to tamper with weighing scales, with the intention to cheat poor farmers.

He said Ghana Standards Authority would not relent in its efforts to apprehend any clerk who indulge in the unacceptable practice.

“It is unfortunate that unregistered brokers-supper purchasing clerks in the remotest villages resort to adjusting their scales illegally,” he said.