President John Dramani Mahama has responded to the viral “Mahama wo de yɛ ka” cocoa farmer video, assuring Ghanaians that his government is taking steps to add value to the country’s agricultural exports, particularly cocoa.
Speaking during an engagement with the Ghanaian community in Philadelphia, the president said the recent fall in global cocoa prices and the protests by farmers should serve as a wake-up call for the country.
Mr. Mahama said Ghana has continued to export raw cocoa beans for nearly 70 years after independence, a situation he believes must change to improve earnings for farmers and strengthen the economy. He noted that the government is shifting its focus from exporting raw produce to processing and industrialisation.
According to him, the government is also changing the financing model used to purchase cocoa from farmers. Instead of relying on traders to advance funds — with the cocoa beans used as collateral — he said the country plans to raise its own funds to buy the cocoa directly.
He explained that once the cocoa is financed locally, the country will have greater control over how the beans are used, including allocating a larger portion to domestic processing before export.
Mr. Mahama said the approach is aimed at boosting farmer incomes, creating jobs and improving export earnings. He added that the government is also considering similar strategies for other agricultural exports as part of broader efforts to promote value addition in the sector.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
