“Inflation is down, but cocoa farmers cannot be paid. What kind of economy is this?” – Dr Zaato quizzes

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Makay
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Dr Zaato

Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, Senior Lecturer and Political/Policy Analyst at the University of Ghana, has fired shots at the John Mahama-led government over their failure to pay cocoa farmers.

Dr Zaato asserted that Inflation is down, but cocoa farmers cannot be paid, questioning what kind of economy the NDC is running.

He further claimed that the NDC government came into power with one agenda in agriculture – to make farmers poor.

According to Dr Zaato, the NDC described the NPP economy as criminally run, but they were paying cocoa farmers.

Speaking on TV3 Newsday, Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato stated, “The problem happening in COCBOD is as a result of policy reversals, internal conflict and weak decision making. It seems all the policies of this government have one objective when it comes to the Agriculture sector: to make farmers poor and poorer.

If you talk to any member of the NDC, they say the dollar is down, fuel prices are down, Inflation is down, and farmers cannot be paid. What kind of economy is that? Inflation is down cocoa farmers cannot be paid. What kind of economy is that? Farmers are crying, and you say the economy is better, which economy are you talking about?”

He added, “Why is it that the economy is doing well, but farmers are not being paid, farmers are threatening to turn their farms into galamsey sites, rubber plantation and to illegally send cocoa out. You said the previous economy was criminally manage but that economy paid cocoa farmers”.

Meanwhile, Francis Teinor, the president of the Mankrong Cocoa Cooperative Farmers Association, has threatened a demonstration over unpaid COCOBOD arrears.

According to him, Cocoa farmers across the country will hit the streets to demonstrate starting from next week if the COCOBOD CEO Dr Randy Abbey fails to pay them.

Francis Teinor cried out that Cocoa farmers have been plunged into severe financial hardship, which is now affecting their basic needs and homes.

Speaking to Citi News, President of the Mankrong Cocoa Cooperative Farmers Association, Francis Teinor, stated, “It is really affecting farmers; some are sick and want to seek medication, but they don’t have money to go to the hospital. Do you want them to die? School has reopened, and parents want to pay fees.

“We cannot also keep the cocoa because farmers don’t have the storage facilities.

“As I speak, it’s been about six weeks, no money for cocoa farmers. This is seriously affecting the sector. If the COCOBOD CEO does not do anything about it, he should expect something ugly from next week. Farmers are not happy; if he is not careful, we will be on the streets next week,” he said.

Also, the President of the Ghana National Association of Cocoa Farmers (GNACOF), Stevenson Anane Boateng, has revealed that cocoa farmers have not been paid for their produce purchased by the government since November 2025.

Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Stevenson Anane Boateng explained, “The government is buying our cocoa but has refused to pay us. Since November, we have not been paid. They accept the cocoa, but they don’t pay us”.

When asked what might have caused the delay, he responded: “We don’t know. We are not part of the government, so please, you need to ask them why they have refused to pay cocoa farmers. This is troubling, and we want the government to address our concerns.”

In the meantime, reports suggest some Cocoa farmers are also contemplating smuggling the beans to neighbouring countries and selling off their lands to illegal miners.

This comes at a time. Ghana Cocoa Board races against time to rethink its financing scheme in cocoa purchases.

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