Members of the Assinman Co-operative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Limited have expressed strong opposition to the current modalities of the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme, which is being piloted in the Assin Fosu Cocoa District.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Kwabena Assan Mends questioned why the government is contributing only 1% to the farmers’ pension scheme, rather than the standard 13.5% typically provided for government workers.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) initiated the pilot phase of the deduction process for cocoa farmers’ contributions to the pension scheme on August 6, 2024.

This pilot is intended to ensure real-time deductions ahead of the scheme’s nationwide rollout, scheduled to begin on October 1, 2024, during the main crop season.

The farmers are calling for more stakeholder engagement before the nationwide implementation of the scheme, urging COCOBOD to address their concerns and provide further clarity.

In addition, 2015 Central Regional Best Farmer, Robert Enyan and other farmers have demanded more information on critical aspects of the scheme, such as the selection of next of kin and other personal details.