Government's Broken Promise to Cocoa Farmers: A bad faith

As a cocoa farmer and a concerned citizen, I am compelled to express my disgust and disappointment at the government's attempt to renege on its promise to increase the price of cocoa. This broken promise is not only a betrayal of trust but also a slap in the face of hardworking cocoa farmers who were convinced to vote for them based on this very promise.

During their time in opposition, the current government made sugar-coated promises to cocoa farmers, pledging to increase the price of cocoa significantly if voted into power. They even went as far as to criticize the previous government for not increasing the price, demanding a 70% increment. But now, they are singing a different tune, citing COCOBOD's debt as an excuse for not fulfilling their promise.

This explanation is nothing short of untenable. The government made these promises fully aware of COCOBOD's financial situation. On what grounds did they make such promises, knowing that the debt was already incurred? It is clear that they were more interested in winning the votes of cocoa farmers than in keeping their promises.

Moreover, it beats compression to expect farmers to pay for a debt they did not occasion. The mismanagement of COCOBOD led to this debt, and it is unfair to pass the burden on to ordinary farmers. We did not create this debt, and we should not be made to pay for it.

It is time for cocoa farmers to stand up for their rights. Unlike other crop producers, cocoa farmers have no say in the pricing of their produce. The government unilaterally determines the price, which is unfair and discouraging. Farmers should enjoy the fruits of their labour, and it is time for us to demand fair prices for our cocoa.

The government's attempt to justify its failure to increase the price by pointing to the little inputs given to a few farmers is nothing but a red herring. These inputs are a drop in the ocean compared to the wealth created by cocoa farmers. The government should not think that they can cheat farmers for the next two years and then increase the price astronomically in the third and fourth years just to win the next election. Cocoa farmers are discerning, and we will not hesitate to punish the government at the polls if they continue to renege on their promises.

In conclusion, the government's broken promise to cocoa farmers is a betrayal of trust. We demand that they fulfill their promise to increase the price of cocoa significantly. Anything less would be a bad faith on their part. We will not be silenced, and we will continue to fight for our rights as cocoa farmers.