A Board member of Cocoa Marketing Board was on Thursday heckled by cocoa farmers for attempting to label the immediate past CEO of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni as Corrupt.
The Board Member, Nana Obeng Akrofi alleged when speaking at the 1st Anniversary of Saviour Cocoa Farmers Association held at Akyem Osiem in the Eastern region that, Dr.Opuni has looted COCOBOD and distributed government fertilizers to his political cronies hence COCOBOD is broke therefore government’s decision to sell fertilizers to cocoa farmers.
“The world price has been reduced by 1/3rd. Recently, Ivory coast officials came here to impress upon Ghana government to reduce the Cocoa price because they have reduced producer price in Ivory coast, but the government just took over power so it is very difficult to reduce the price. Someone may ask where is the cocoa stabilization fund which was set aside when we came Opuni had embezzled all the fund.
He added:“Honestly, there is nothing in that fund. When he realized that his government has lost power, he rushed to sign a cheque to withdraw $400 Million from Cocoa Marketing Board account, so there is nothing in the coffers so Cocoa farmers must bear with us .On the free fertilizer issues, someone will ask why was it free but now being sold to farmers,the fact of the matter is that, Opuni gave out the free fertilizers to his cronies.”
The comments by the CMB board member who is also the Eastern Regional President of Cocoa and Cashew nuts farmers Association, did not go down well with some cocoa farmers gathered at the program and organizers hence stopped from continuing his address.
The organizers argued, he association is apolitical therefore do not want the program to turn political.
By: Kojo Ansah
