Govt's plan to purchase chocolate with $5m a misplaced priority – Minority

The Minority has backlashed the government for its decision to use $5 million out of the cocoa loan to purchase chocolate.

According to them, it is a misplaced priority of the government and misuse of public funds.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' program, Minority spokesperson on Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku explained that the $5 million can be used to construct roads and also improve cocoa production in the country.

"The government is insensitive to the plight of cocoa farmers, because to use such a huge amount to purchase chocolate for cocoa farmers is wrong and a misplaced priority," he argued.

"If the government has received money for cocoa farmers, why don’t they distribute the money to the farmers or invest the money into the cocoa sector which is the backbone of the economy rather than using a chunk of it to purchase chocolates for school children?" he asked.

“The government wants to buy the chocolates for students with funds meant to increase cocoa production. What sense does this make?” the former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister said.

To him, the move is counterproductive and a clear diversion of funds which will not help the cocoa sector bedeviled with loads of challenges.

He noted that they are aware the NPP government promised 'one child, one chocolate' and going into elections next year, the government wants to fulfill its campaign promise.

"But this decision is wrongly placed."

Currently, Ghana produces 850,000 tonnes of cocoa, making it the second-highest producer of the cash crop globally, after Cote D’ Ivoire.

The loan which the Akufo-Addo government secured from the African Development Bank (AfDB) is to increase the country’s cocoa production to 1.5 million tonnes in a seven-year development program to transform the cocoa sector – production and processing in the country.

Watch the interview below