Farmers threaten to smuggle cocoa if price of produce does not go up further

Cocoa farmers have threatened to smuggle their produce to neighbouring countries if government does not take measures to further increase the price of cocoa.

A bag of cocoa was previously selling for GH¢660 in Ghana until government yesterday announced an increment in the producer price by 21% to GH¢800 for the 2022/2023 cocoa crop season.

The new pricing regime is expected to take effect from Friday, October 7, 2022.

However, some cocoa farmers are lamenting the new increment is woefully inadequate, as compared to that of the Ivory Coast which is pegged at about ¢858 for the same season.

Speaking to Citi News, the President of the Concerned Farmers Association, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu said they are unhappy with the new rates and demand a further price adjustment.

“The government has put in some effort, but this is not enough for us. We were expecting about GH¢1,500 so that we could at least have about GH¢250 for welfare and GH¢1250 in the pocket of the farmer.”

“How can the cocoa farmers decide on a price and then government sit elsewhere and quotes its price without consulting us? There was no dialogue whatsoever. Our farmers are threatening to smuggle their produce to neighbouring countries if there is no further increment in the price.”