Some cocoa farmers in the cocoa growing communities in the Western Region of Ghana have expressed with grave concern the unusual delays in the payment for their produce.
Farmers, who sell their cocoa beans to Produce Buying Company has since not received their cash for more than two weeks.
According to the aggrieved cocoa farmers, Produce Buying Bompany (PBC) and other license buying companies have failed to honor their consideration after purchasing their cocoa beans from them for two week now.
They are therefore questioning the credibility of the companies, and want the companies to come clear on its financial position.
We understand, the cocobod has secured 1.5billion dollars cocoa syndicated loans for the 2018-2019 main cocoa crop season, so why would Produce Buying Company and other companies refuse to pay us our money, they quizzed.
They have threatened to withdraw their service with Produce Buying Company should they adopt this system of operations going forward.
One of the cocoa farmer from Sefwi Akontombra Mr. Kofi Boakye, in an interview with Gardja.org, indicated that, his 8 bags of cocoa beans have been locked-up, due to their unwillingness to pay them on time.
‘’We are getting to Christmas and this back and forth from the buying company have affected our fortunes. Should the situation remain unchanged, and if the development continuous like we are facing, it would compel many of us to sell our cocoa beans to Cote D’ivore, he said.
This is a wake up call for Ghana COCOBOD, at a time the country is working assiduously to meet the 1 million metric ton of cocoa for 2018/2019 main crop season.
Here are Excerpts from the aggrieved cocoa farmers in Sefwi Akontombra
