Ghana Cocoa Farmers Struggle Amid Cash Shortage
Ghana’s cocoa farmers are complaining that they’re broke as the cocoa board – to which they are obliged by law to sell their produce – is unable to pay them. The farmers say that the board – known as Cocobod - has not treated them fairly. Anane Boateng, the president of the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association, complained that while his members do all the work and shoulder the costs, Cocobod seem unable to make a profit. There are currently worries that some farmers might be forced to smuggle their remaining beans into neighbouring Ivory Coast in order to sell them. Ghana is the world’s second largest producer of cocoa and the industry makes up around 15% of the country’s exports. Cocobod has been losing money for the past…
