Ghana Parliament: President Mahama Urged to Assent Ghana Cocoa Board Bill

• The Majority in Parliament has urged President Mahama to assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill before the new cocoa season begins.
• The Bill will guarantee cocoa farmers 70% of the world market price realised by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
• The Minority in Parliament has opposed the legislation, urging President Mahama to return it to Parliament for broader stakeholder consultation.
• President Mahama is under pressure to act urgently on the legislation due to its critical timing.

The Majority argues that the Bill will provide stronger financial protection for cocoa farmers by guaranteeing them 70% of the world market price realised by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

The Majority in Parliament has urged President John Dramani Mahama to assent to the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill before the new cocoa season begins. The call comes as the Minority in Parliament has opposed the legislation, urging President Mahama to return it to Parliament for broader stakeholder consultation. The Majority argues that the Bill will provide stronger financial protection for cocoa farmers by guaranteeing them 70% of the world market price realised by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). This measure is seen as crucial in ensuring farmers benefit directly from developments in the international cocoa market.

The Ghana Cocoa Board Bill has been a subject of debate in Parliament, with both the Majority and Minority presenting their views on its merits. The Majority sees the legislation as essential for protecting the interests of cocoa farmers, while the Minority has raised concerns about aspects of the Bill. The Vice Chairman of Parliament's Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Kwami Dzudzorli Gakpey, has dismissed the Minority's concerns as an attempt to derail the legislation. He emphasized that the timing is critical, given the approaching new cocoa season.

The assent of the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill by President Mahama will have significant implications for cocoa farmers and companies operating in Ghana. The legislation aims to provide stronger financial protection for farmers, which is seen as essential for their survival in the face of fluctuations in the international cocoa market. Lawyers advising cocoa farmers or companies operating in Ghana should watch for the potential impact of this legislation on their clients' financial protection and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Lawyers advising cocoa farmers or companies operating in Ghana should watch for the potential impact of this legislation on their clients' financial protection and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Source: Original reporting via myjoyonline.com