Our children are still at home – Manso-Adubia Cocoa farmers lament six months of unpaid cocoa supplies

Cocoa farmers in Manso-Adubia in the Ashanti Region have expressed deep frustration over prolonged delays in government payments for cocoa beans supplied over the past six months, warning that the situation is severely affecting their livelihoods and families.

According to the farmers, the unpaid monies have left them financially stranded, making it difficult to meet basic obligations such as paying school fees. Many say their children have been forced to stay home due to their inability to settle educational expenses.

Speaking to the media during a visit by the Minority in Parliament, the farmers described the situation as dire, stressing that even informal support systems have collapsed.

“My children are still at home because government has failed to pay us. How long will he stay home while his colleagues are in school?” one farmer lamented.

They added that cocoa buying clerks, who previously offered financial assistance, are now unable to lend money due to the widespread cash flow challenges, leaving farmers with limited options. Some indicated they are considering taking loans, though access to credit remains difficult.

The concerns were raised during an engagement with a Minority delegation led by the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh.

Responding to the farmers, the Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, assured them that their concerns would be presented on the floor of Parliament. She pledged that the Minority would continue to advocate on their behalf to ensure they receive their due payments and improve their living conditions.

The farmers are now calling on the government to act urgently to settle the outstanding payments, ease their financial burden, and enable them to adequately care for their families and invest in their children’s education.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise among cocoa-growing communities, with some farmers in nearby areas threatening drastic actions if the delays persist.