ON the front page of last week Saturday September 5, 2009, edition of the Daily Graphic it was reported that a row has generated between local buyers of cocoa and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) over payment of bonuses to farmers.
ACCORDING to the story, what triggered the conflict was a threat from management of COCOBOD to withdraw the licenses of some buyers, following their alleged delay in the payment of bonuses to our poor cocoa farmers whose livelihoods depend largely on the sale of their produce.
THAT allegation was, however, rebuffed by members of the Licensed Buying Company (LBCs) who are also ready for a legal battle with COCOBOD in the law courts. TODAY believes that this matter can be settled amicably without recourse to the court.
WE believe that it has not gotten to the point where the matter should be brought before a competent court of jurisdiction. This is because the parties involved have worked together for a very long time and know each other very well. After all who will suffer when such a matter is sent to the courts? Obviously, it will be the poor cocoa farmer in the rural area.
BUT, what TODAY cannot comprehend is why some LBCs in the Brong Ahafo Region will deliberately withhold the bonuses of cocoa farmers. It is even more disturbing when the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Mr Tony Fofie, stated at the launch of this year’s COPAL Cocoa Day celebration in Accra that his outfit has released an amount of GH¢21.2 million to LBCs to be used in the payment of bonuses to cocoa farmers.
ALTHOUGH management of LBCs has openly denied the said allegation, we still deem it necessary to caution LBCs who serve as middlemen between the COCOBOD and the farmers against such misguided actions. Whatever their reason maybe they must bear in mind that they have no right to unduly delay the payment of bonuses of cocoa farmers more especially when moneys to that effect had been released.
INASMUCH as we want to encourage our youth into agriculture and our farmers to produce more, such practices serve as disincentive to them, and must henceforth cease. It is essential that we do things that will motivate farmers to produce more.
IT is our hope that the matter would be solved immediately to ensure that the bonuses due cocoa farmers are paid.
