Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Casiel Ato Forson, has pointed out that cocoa production in Ghana has been on the decline since President Akufo-Addo took over the country in 2017.
In a write-up challenging the President’s claims that his Government has done more for Ghana’s cocoa sector than the previous NDC Government, in which Hon. Forson served, the former Deputy Finance Minister presented statistics that show a trend in the decline in cocoa throughput.
“Cocoa Production has been on the decline since they took over: 2016/17 = 969,000, 2017/18 = 904,000, 2018/19 = 800,000, Currently at 770,000, highest possible will be 820,000,” he wrote.
Casiel Ato Forson who is also the Minority’s spokesperson on Finance said contrary to claims by President Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s highest cocoa production happened under former President Mahama.
“Remember 2016/17 cocoa production year was the second highest due to Investments of Prez Mahama! and it’s the second highest since 2010/11 when we made 1million tonnes under the late President Atta Mills.”
Mr. Forson also said, cocoa farmers are worst off under President Akufo-Addo than they were under President Mahama because under the former regime, fertilizers were distributed free of charge to cocoa farmers but President Akufo-Addo is selling the same fertilizer to farmers now.
“Free seedlings were also distributed to all and not being sold to some known party people as we know is happening now!
“Real producer prices were positive under President Mahama But negative under this government, in spite of the massive depreciation of the cedi from 3.2 in October 2016 to 5.4 today!
“cocoa roads, were awarded, some completed and others were at different stages of completion under President Mahama after suspending work on all these roads for almost three years they now want to back to the same projects and continue!
“we Expanded cocoa seed gardens from 27 to over 200 across the country!” Hon. Ato forson said.
Meanwhile, a group of cocoa farmers in the Eastern region have accused the Akufo-Addo Government of neglect and have served notice to demonstrate against the destruction of cocoa farms at Asikasu if President Akufo-Addo does not stop the usurpation of cocoa lands by rubber plantation farmers.
“We are giving the President a three-day ultimatum. If he doesn’t ensure we get our lands back, we will demonstrate. Sadly COCOBOD says they have not seen this. COCOBOD is not serving the interest of ordinary cocoa farmers,” Nana Oboadie Bonsu, Chairman of the Concerned Farmers Association, said.
Oboadie, who was speaking at the 3rd Cocoa Dialogue Series organized by the Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association (GARDJA) at Bunso in the Eastern region, said the farmers will not sit down and allow their lands to be usurped.
“Ghana is for all of us. We will not sit down and allow anyone to destroy the cocoa industry. They do not have the ordinary cocoa farmers at heart. It is sad that cocoa which government has given the farmers seedlings to plant and help expand on the production are being destroyed and no one cares. Why would government act like this?”
According to him, the destruction of cocoa farms at Asikasu has been going on for a long time and that complaints and pleas that have been made to Government for intervention have gone unheeded.
Consequently, he said at least 50 farmers have lost their lives, trying to defend their lands while some 2000 acres of cocoa farms have been destroyed.
