In an unusual show of solidarity, street hawkers in Accra’s Central Business District yesterday abandoned their wares to join cocoa farmers in a spirited protest at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) headquarters.
Carrying placards and chanting slogans, the protesters accused authorities of failing to protect the livelihoods of those at the heart of Ghana’s most critical export sector.
The joint protest highlights growing frustration over the economic state of the industry.
The primary demands from the farmers include an immediate upward review of the cocoa producer price, the settlement of outstanding payments owed by Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) operating under COCOBOD’s supervision.
While COCOBOD recently announced that funds had been released to LBCs to facilitate these payments, the disgruntled farmers predominantly from the Western Region claim the relief has yet to reach the “farmgate” level.
The protest took a political turn as protesters referenced the 2024 general elections.
Traders speaking with 1960news.com expressed their disappointment, alleging that the current NDC administration has failed to deliver on campaign promises.
”We cannot sit by while COCOBOD cheats our fathers and mothers,” one trader remarked.
“They promised a higher producer price while in opposition, only to come to power and cut prices, leaving farmers impecunious.”
The traders argued that their own livelihoods are intrinsically linked to the farmers’ success.
“Our businesses only boom when farmers are paid,” one protester noted, explaining that the rural-urban economic cycle has been disrupted by the farmers’ financial distress.
The unrest comes at a precarious time for Ghana’s cocoa sector, which is currently grappling with:
Global price volatility.
Declining output in key regions.
Farmers at the scene issued a stern warning to the government indicating that without immediate intervention and fair compensation, many farmers may be forced to abandon cocoa farming altogether which would jeopardize Ghana’s future production levels and its standing in the global market.
By 1960news.com
