[ 2012-03-05 ]

Cocoa farmers call for re-introduction of Akuafo Cheque
Cocoa farmers in four cocoa producing Regions have
appealed to the government to re-introduce the
Akuafo Cheque payment system to replace the
current cash payment for their products.

The farmers from Central, Eastern, Volta and
Western Regions made the appeal at a day’s
sensitization workshop on the re-introduction and
enforcement of the Akuafo Cheque payment system at
Agona Swedru, on Saturday.

The Workshop was organised by the Ghana Cocoa,
Coffee, and Shea Nut farmers Association, with
sponsorship from the BUSAC Fund, the Embassy of
Denmark, USAID and the International Development
Cooperation.

According to the cocoa farmers, the
re-introduction of the Akuafo cheque would
eliminate fraud and also the cheating of farmers
by Cocoa Purchasing Clerks (PC’s).

It will also prevent the attacks on PC’s by
robbers during their journey to the various
farming societies to pay the farmers.

Mr Joseph Atayem Awantungo, Consultant on the
BUSAC Fund Advocacy Action and Anthony N. Essuah,
a researcher from BUSAC, said the workshop was to
discuss the research finding they conducted on the
re-introduction of the Akuafo Cheque Payment
System and the current Cash payment system on
Cocoa, Coffee and Shea nut.

They said the research revealed that over 94 per
cent of cocoa farmers are over 50 years old and
that most of the youth were not into farming, a
situation they described as not the best.

The research further revealed that most farmers
are exposed to danger since most of them are
attacked by armed robbers anytime they return to
their villages after selling their produce.

The situation has also led to the keeping of huge
sums of money by the farmers in their rooms,
adding that, some PC’s take advantage of the
system and bolt with the monies meant for cocoa
purchases.

The Western Regional Chief cocoa farmer, Nana
Johnson Mensah said if the Cheque system is
re-introduced; it will enable the farmers to save
with the banks and also give them access to loans
to maintain and expand their farms.

Nana Kwesi Ofori Central Regional Chief cocoa
farmer, appealed to government to put in place
more measures for cocoa farmers, to encourage them
to work hard to maintain Ghana’s status on the
World cocoa market.

Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, National Cocoa, Coffee and
shea nut Chief Farmer, who chaired the workshop,
urged farmers to unite and work towards increasing
production.

Source - GNA

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