By: Austin Ofori
Cocoa, the major contributor to the country’s GDP in the year 2010/2015 crop season with a production of 1 million metric tons have drastically declined with an output below 900,000 metric tons in three subsequent crop season.
Running mate for Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, flagbearer of opposition New Patriotic Party, NPP Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has stated that the decline is very disturbing since such has not been recorded in the past decade.
The vice presidential candidate was speaking at Asylum down, at the party’s headquarters in Accra when he presented what the NPP calls an alternative budget to what Finance Minister, Seth Terkper presented in parliament for the year 2016. He added that the decline was reason why the economy is plagued with many troubles compelling most businesses to collapse.
Meanwhile, President of concern farmers association, Nana Opambour Bonsu Boateng reiterated that government should be blamed for the reduction in cocoa production because about 2000 acres of cocoa plantations are being destroyed and that government is doing little or nothing to change the situation.
He also accused Dr. Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board for not showing any concern with the many cocoa trees being cut down across the country. And that if the situation is not curbed, Ghanaians will depend on rubber for food with time to come.
Source: ritefmonline.org
