The Ghana Civil Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) has commended the Ghana Cocoa Board for its bold initiative of implementing the $400 Living Income Differential (LID) aimed at improving farmers’ standard of living.
In a press release jointly signed by ten members, the coalition also makes a strong case for a new cocoa producer price or farmgate price for the cocoa farmer of not less than GHS670 per bag.
Basing its expectations on the minimum projected figures and the assumption that farmers will receive a minimum of 80% of LID and 70% of FoB price at the Bank of Ghana year-on-year exchange rate of GHS5.7 to $1, the coalition said, “cocoa farmers are expected to receive not less than GH10,701 per tonne of cocoa beans which should translate into minimum GHS670 per bag of cocoa beans.”
Sandra Kwabea Sarkwah, the Coalition coordinator said, “the platform recognizes the massive significance of this initiative and its invaluable impact on the livelihood of cocoa farmers and therefore applauds COCOBOD and its counterpart in Cote d’Ivoire for this bold initiative.”
Sarkwah pushed strongly on cocoa farmers’ expectation “to see a direct and obvious change in the farm gate price of cocoa beans, such that farmers’ income and living standard improve.”
“Following several demands by farmers in expectation of an increment in upcoming farm gate price, it is worth noting that COCOBOD will be in good standing to meet this expectation if the LID is implemented as scheduled”, she added.
According to the coalition, considering the fall in international cocoa prices as a result of COVID19, it is imperative that the purpose for instituting the LID is realised and applied to make up for the losses.
We celebrate the government’s commitment to implement this initiative as agreed and are anxiously awaiting the announcement by COCOBOD on the farm gate price for cocoa in the 2020/2021 cocoa season.
The Ghana Civil-society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) is an independent campaign and advocacy platform for civil society actors in the cocoa sector – comprising Civil Society Organizations, Non-governmental Organizations, Community-based Organizations, Farmer-based Organizations, Farmer Associations, Media and interested individuals.
The main aim of the platform is to advocate and influence cocoa sector policies and programmes. GCCP is currently hosted by SEND Ghana, with membership across the country, especially in cocoa-growing areas.