Captain Smart Calls For Reshuffle at Cocobod, Rubbishes Alleged Influence of Lordina Mahama
- Captain Smart has called for a significant reshuffle at the Ghana Cocoa Board amid struggles with paying farmers in the sector
- The broadcaster criticised the alleged concerns over the influence of First Lady Lordina Mahama at the Ghana Cocoa Board
- Smart also warns against the misuse of the First Lady's name for political gain amid speculation on the matter
Broadcaster with Onua TV, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly referred to as Captain Smart, has called for major changes at the Ghana Cocoa Board amid the recent turbulence in the sector.
Without naming any official, Smart said a reshuffle was necessary at the controversial state agency.
Source: Facebook
Speaking on his morning show on February 10, he lammented to the concerns of farmers who are demanding payment for their cocoa.
He also addressed suggestions that influence from the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, may have rendered the Ghana Cocoa Board CEO, Randy Abbey, untouchable.
Smart claimed some NDC associates were bandying about the First Lady's name to court favour and influence.
"Ghana is not for the first lady... The way people are using the First Lady’s name is scary."
What is happening in Ghana's Cocoa Sector?
Reuters reported that some of Ghana's farmers have not been paid, and investments in the next harvest are at risk as international traders refuse to pay the upfront sums to the Ghana Cocoa Board.
The revamped system, introduced for the 2024/25 season, shifted the burden of pre-financing purchases from the Ghana Cocoa Board to international traders.
Under the previous system that had been in place for three decades, the government raised funds annually via syndicated loans and disbursed them to the licensed buying companies, which in turn bought beans from farmers and delivered them to the regulator for onward sale to the international markets.
Abbey has admitted that delays in paying farmers stem from the collapse of a syndicated loan that financed cocoa purchases over the last 32 years.
The president of the Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association, Samuel Adimado, disclosed to Joy News that Licensed Buying Companies have not received payments from the Ghana Cocoa Board for two consecutive seasons, with arrears estimated at $185 million.
He also noted that cocoa from Ghana had become relatively expensive compared to cocoa from other countries.
This, he said, has resulted in international buyers sourcing from other countries.
Cameroonian farmer advises Ghanaian Cocoa farmers
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that a cocoa farmer from Cameroon, known as Celebrity Farmer, had advised colleague farmers in Ghana to desist from selling their farmlands or converting them for illegal mining.
The farmer shared his testimony, recounting how fellow farmers in his country also lamented not being adequately compensated for their produce until the sector bounced back.
Source: YEN.com.gh
