A group of cocoa farmers in Ghana has filed an official petition to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), calling for urgent reforms to tackle longstanding issues in the cocoa sector. Key concerns raised by the farmers include deforestation, child labor, the unsafe use of pesticides, and the need for fairer wages.

The farmers’ appeal is grounded in a grievance mechanism set up by COCOBOD as a condition for a $600 million loan from the African Development Bank, secured in 2019. Despite COCOBOD’s oversight role, the farmers argue that problems in the cocoa industry have persisted for more than a decade without sufficient action.

Phidelia Gameli, one of the farmers leading the petition, told Citi Business News that COCOBOD must focus on safeguarding farmers’ welfare. The petition has also received support from the University of Ghana School of Law, Civic Response, and the Corporate Accountability Lab, a U.S.-based organization. Together, they aim to drive greater accountability and reform within Ghana’s cocoa sector.

The petition underscores systemic issues affecting the industry, including the slow adoption of agroforestry, the heavy reliance on harmful chemicals, and the prevalence of child labor. These problems are compounded by opaque supply chains and low payments to farmers, which, according to the farmers, threaten the long-term viability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.

Cocoa smuggling is another pressing issue raised in the petition. An estimated 120,000 metric tons of cocoa beans were illegally transported out of Ghana between 2022 and 2023, driven largely by higher cocoa prices in neighboring countries. Despite measures by COCOBOD and other authorities, smuggling continues to undermine the nation’s cocoa economy.

In response to environmental and social risks in the sector, COCOBOD launched an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) in 2018, which includes a grievance mechanism for stakeholders. This system, which extends across COCOBOD’s operations and subsidiaries, aims to address environmental, social, health, and safety issues in the cocoa industry. However, the farmers argue that the system has yet to deliver meaningful change.

Ghana is one of the world’s top cocoa producers, and the sector plays a critical role in its economy. The petitioners hope that COCOBOD’s response will mark a turning point for the industry and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers across the country.

Source:TheDotNews