In spite of efforts by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to eliminate illicit adjustment of weighing scales by purchasing clerks, unhappy cocoa farmers in the Asutifi North and South Districts of the Brong Ahafo Region say, they are still being cheated by these clerks working with the various Licensed Cocoa Buying Companies (LBCs).
It is illegal for any LBC or their representative to purchase cocoa beans with weighing scales which are different from what has been certified by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
Speaking to Citi News, Sarfo Peter, Secretary of the Asutifi Farmers Network, said the purchasing clerks cheat farmers by illegally adjusting weighing scales to the disadvantage of farmers.
Mr. Peter stated that the phenomenon has happening in communities including Apenimadi, Donkokrom, Obenkrom, and Bogyampa.
According to him, some of the purchasing clerks are licensed with various companies and called on the government to set up a task force to help curb the phenomenon.
Mr. Peter therefore called on district assemblies to also intervene, by engaging either the police or the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), to arrest LBCs and their clerks in order for farmers to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
