COCOBOD has expressed disquiet about what it describes as unethical practices being perpetuated by License Buying Companies (LBC’s).
The entity by this warned LBC’s refrain from any forms of advertising soliciting for cocoa from producers for premium payments on the spot or at a later date.
According to them, the act is unethical and must stop immediately.
Cocobod made this warning in a press statement delivered by its Deputy CEO in charge of operations Dr Emmanuel Opoku earlier this week.
He said “we wish to reiterate our directive of 24th January 2019 that payment of any form of inducements to cocoa farmers at the point of sale is unethical and must stop forthwith. LBC’s must refrain from any form of advertisement soliciting for cocoa from producers for premium payments on the spot or at a later date.”
“Premium payments can be made after the closing of the season to only cocoa farmers who registered and participated in certification/sustainability projects before the start of the cocoa season,” he said.
He went on to add that no LBC shall purchase conventional cocoa and declare same as special unless with written prior approval by COCOBOD and restricted to a specific location.”
“We wish to inform all stakeholders that COCOBOD has begun consultations to reform the regulation for the production and marketing of certified/sustainable cocoa,” he added,
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
