By: Charles Ampong

The President of the Council of Zongo Chiefs of Mpasatia in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti, Chief Abdullai Muhammed, has categorically stated that per what is going on in the cocoa industry, it would be very difficult to attract the youth to take over the baton.He said that already some cocoa farmers were cutting their plants for galamsey when the price was high and the current cocoa price reduction would worsen the problem

. Chief Abdullai Muhammed told this paper that, though the cocoa price reduction is attributed to the world market, the government should do something better for the cocoa farmers in order to sustain it. “Per what is going on in the cocoa sector, which is the backbone of Ghana’s economy, if care is not taken, the sector would lose its glory to galamsey.”

Chief Abdullai Muhammed

He mentioned. The zongohene of Mpasatia said what baffles him is the plight of cocoa clerks who are now indebted because they have already bought the cocoa beans at the old price and all of a sudden a new reduction price is announced and takes effect immediately.

Chief Abdullai Muhammed said it is through these cocoa clerks who have been assisting cocoa farmers with loans, and now that they are also affected, the sector is going to face serious challenges which the government must work to address.He said he is fully in support of the recent comment that circulated on the social media that cocoa farmers are going to register their displeasure through the demonstration.

According to him, by the time that the cocoa price keeps on moving high in the international market, the government does not add a pesewa but rather sticks to the announced price but wonders why the government shouldn’t do the same if the international market has gone down.Chief Abdullai Muhammed, who is a renowned cocoa farmer, sees this action by the government as “cheating and betrayal”.