National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, John Mahama, has criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over what he describes as the irresponsible management of the cocoa industry.
Mahama, currently on a campaign tour of the Western Region, stated that the NPP’s eight years in power have resulted in the decline of the cocoa industry.
According to the former President, this situation has led to a production deficit and mounting debts within the sector.
He raised these concerns during an engagement with the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi, where he pledged to revive the struggling industry.
“Our cocoa production has decreased by nearly 400,000 tons. Meanwhile, the government has taken a loan equivalent to 350,000 tons of cocoa, meaning the next government will inherit a cocoa debt of 350,000 tons to pay.
“They have now increased the price of cocoa to appease farmers, but most cocoa farms have been destroyed by diseases such as swollen shoot” he added.
He however promised to implement strategies to revive the cocoa industry and boost the welfare of cocoa farmers.
