Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, says that some cocoa farmers have sold their farmlands to illegal miners because the government is not giving them a fair price.

He asserted that cocoa farmers have not seen any major improvement in their lives since this government took over.

He said for the first four years of this NPP government, they refused to increase the price of cocoa for the farmers.

Several farmers who feel cheated have sold their farms to illegal miners as a means of survival, he noted.

“Because the cocoa farmers are not making profits and their efforts seem to go down the drain, the majority of the farmers have sold their farms to galamseyers. Why should this happen? The farmers had hopes that every year they would make good returns on their cocoa; however, for the first four years of the Nana Addo-led administration, he failed to increase the price of cocoa."

The law also requires that when cocoa is sold on the international market, 70 percent of what is sold is what should be given to the farmers. If the farmers were being paid 70% of the international market price, no cocoa farmer would sell a cocoa farm to galamseyers,” he said.

Meanwhile, he has promised to shake up the management of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) if elected president.

The former President expressed concern that the cocoa sector was plagued by challenges, with the government lacking a clear understanding of how to manage it.

Mr. Mahama made the remarks during his engagement with the cocoa farmers in the Bono region as part of his campaign tour.

“I will cause a massive shakeup at COCOBOD. Those who have supervised the mess in the cocoa sector don’t have to continue managing the affairs of the sector. All these individuals have to be removed to pave the way for more competent people to take over.”