Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has criticized Cocobod for prioritizing excessive spending at its Accra headquarters instead of investing in cocoa farmers.
Speaking on Sunrise FM on Friday, November 22, after concluding his five-day tour of the Eastern Region, Mahama expressed concerns about Cocobod’s financial management, particularly in the face of declining cocoa production.
“Cocoa farmers have been struggling for years, yet Cocobod deems it fit to allocate huge sums to its headquarters,” he said.
He further revealed: “Over the past four years, cocoa production has dropped to 555,000 tonnes, but Cocobod’s headquarters expenses have skyrocketed to a staggering GHC3.4 billion in 2023. This is unacceptable. Instead of supporting farmers, they are splurging on cars and unjustified salaries.”
Plans for the Cocoa Sector
Mahama outlined his vision to revitalize the cocoa sector and improve the welfare of farmers if elected in 2024.
“We will manage the cocoa sector better under our government. Cocoa farmers will see real benefits, including year-round irrigation for cocoa-growing areas and the establishment of local processing plants to add value to our produce,” he assured.
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