A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications team, Stephen Donkor, has called on cocoa farmers to exercise restraint with the government in the wake of the recent reduction in cocoa prices and other pressing issues.
He stressed that such responsiveness and support for the government would be crucial as the government takes steps to address their concerns, rather than scoring political points with the matter.
Mr. Donkor explained that the price reduction, which stems from declining world market prices, cannot be overlooked in the conversation.
He highlighted the government’s aim to avoid burdening future generations with loans while addressing the price issue, describing this as a more sustainable solution in contrast to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) strategy of borrowing.
He firmly believes this approach is essential for tackling the challenges facing the cocoa sector and securing a better future for all stakeholders.
Mr. Donkor urged farmers to disregard the NPP’s suggestion that the government should take loans from international banks to pay them, noting that such a strategy would not solve the underlying problems and could collapse Cocobod, adversely affecting future generations.
“There is something about giving them the pricing and there’s something about collapsing the entity called Cocobod but the government does not intend to run down Cocobod. We won’t run Cocobod into a negative equity, we won’t run Cocobod into losses which will be a burden on the future,” he stated.
He accused the NPP’s previous administration of leading to significant losses in the Cocobod sector due to irresponsible borrowing, which has culminated in the current cocoa crisis.
“In 2022, Ghana was in a very bad state. If we continue to take loans from companies and international banks to sustain our economy, it will pose significant problems,” he stated.
He encouraged farmers to support the government’s current approach, asserting that it would lead to improvements in the sector, ensuring a happier future for everyone involved.
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
