By Augustine Agyapong, GNA
Kasapin, (Ahafo), Feb. 25, GNA – Mr Haruna Mohammed, the Member of Parliament for Asunafo North Constituency in Ahafo Region has asked License Buying Companies (LBCs) in the area pay cocoa farmers their deserving money, devoid of cheats.
He reminded the LBCs that they were mandated to pay the cocoa farmers who sold their beans before February 12, 2026 GHC3,625 per bag, saying that the reduction in the cocoa price should not affect the arrears of the farmers.
Mr Mohammed gave the advice when he engaged some cocoa farmers and LBCs at separate meetings at Kasapin, Domenase and Bitre, cocoa growing communities in the area.
The MP said his engagements with the farmers were to enable him to explain some on-going reforms and challenges confronting the cocoa sector that informed the reduction of the cocoa producer price and what the government was doing to address those challenges.
Mr Mohammed said: “I have received several complaints from many cocoa farmers. Let me make it clear to you that the government has paid the LBCs with the old price and they are mandated to use the old price to pay your arrears”.
“In fact, there is no justification for the LBCs to pay you according to the new price for the beans you sold before the price reduction. I don’t want to believe that is what the LBCs are doing or intend to do”, he stated.
Mr Mohammed called on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to monitor those payments so that the farmers would receive what they deserve.
In an open forum, some of the farmers commended the MP for the meeting and expressed the hope that such engagements would be done regularly as the government reformed the cocoa sector.
After the MP had taken them through the international market price trend and government’s reform programmes, the cocoa farmers noted that the producer price reduction was justifiable, urging the government to provide them with farm and other inputs, and on time to motivate them to enhance production.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/George-Ramsey Benamba