The Sefwi Bonsu Nkwanta ‘A’ District Manager of the Produce Buying Company, Mr.. Yaw Nti has urged cocoa farmers not to accept monies from Purchasing Clerks of the Produce Buying Company in influence them to sell their cocoa to them when they begin harvesting their produce. He said the practice enables the clerks to give the monies to farmers when they are in financial difficulties and thereby force them to pay for such loans through a butter system. Mr.. Yaw Nti, who was addressing a farmers’ forum at Sefwi Akoyem near Bonsu Nkwanta, said the practice often results in a situation where the farmers sell sub-standard cocoa beans to the marketing clerks who cannot refuse to acept such cocoa beans in view of the farmers’ indebtedness to them. He also warned the marketing clerks to stay out of such nefarious practices to enable the PBC to buy only beans that meet the required standard. Two farmers, Opanin Abu Kramo and Opanin Osei appealed to the COCOBOD to help check some money lenders who enter Ghana from a neighbouring country in the area where the alleged enticement of Ghanaian farmers has led to the loss of many cocoa farms. The foreigners deceive the farmers to transfer their farms to them in exchange for cash.
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