Editorials

The Daily Graphic comments on Cocoa farmers and their bonus. The paper finds as a worrying development the impasse between the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the licensed buying companies (LBCs) over the non-payment of bonuses to some cocoa farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region. The paper says Cocoa beans and products from Ghana have gained world acclaim such that in faraway Japan, if the chocolate on their shelves is not from Ghana, buyers from that country hesitate in patronising the product.
The paper continues that on the international market our cocoa beans and products are perceived and adored such that they describe them as “premium” quality.

The Daily Graphic is not interested in the blame game, but rather appeals to the conscience of the two parties to resolve to find a quick solution to the impasse.

The paper says the over US$1 billion dollar syndicated loan to finance the purchases of cocoa for this year's cocoa season is a testimony of the international financial system's faith in our ability to deliver on the yearly cocoa purchases but such wrong signals from the cocoa sector can impact negatively on our ability to source such funds, use them for the intended purpose and repay same in good time.

The paper therefore calls for reason and above all responsiveness on the part of all the parties to ensure that our farmers are not denied the very little compensation due them as a reward for their hard work and recommends dialogue between the Cocobod and the LBCs to resolve the issue amicably and trust that good reason will prevail.