Farmers calls for more transparency in COCOBOD scholarship

Cocoa farmers in the Bekwai Municipality have appealed to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to ensure more transparency and due diligence in its scholarship awards to Senior High Schools (SHS) students.

They alleged that the scheme, meant to give support to children of cocoa farmers, was being abused and insisted that, “many of the beneficiaries have no relations who are farmers.”

According to them, said although they had over the years remained the backbone of the economy, the stark reality was that they were among the poorest and could not accept the taking away of “the small benefit” set aside exclusively for their kids.

The farmers expressed the sentiment at a forum held at Antoakrom, during a tour of some cocoa growing communities in Ashanti by the Chief Executive of the COCOBOD, Mr Tony Fofie.

He was there to interact and discuss with the farmers ways of increasing the production level.

Ghana’s cocoa production hit one million tonnes, last year.

Other concerns the farmers raised included what the high cost of cocoa spraying machines, bad roads and the destruction of their farms through surface mining.

Mr Fofie praised them for their hard work that had kept the nation going and said the Board would  promote their welfare and make life better for them.

He encouraged them to stick to best practices that had for decades helped to maintain the quality of Ghana’s cocoa beans and boost output.

Source: GNA