The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has promised to establish cocoa clinics in all cocoa-growing regional capitals across the country if elected into power. This assurance was given by the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Hon. Eric Opoku, during a campaign event held at Norberkow, a cocoa-farming community in the Ahafo Region, where the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, was also in attendance.
Hon. Opoku highlighted the current inadequacy of having only one cocoa clinic located in Accra, which he believes does not meet the needs of cocoa farmers in other regions. He said, “John Dramani Mahama is promising to change the narrative, and he is going to build ultra-modern cocoa clinics in all cocoa-growing regional capitals to serve the health needs of cocoa farmers and their families.”
In addition to healthcare improvements, Hon. Opoku revealed that the next NDC government would also put cocoa farmers and their families on the free National Health Insurance Scheme. He added that the NDC’s plan includes a comprehensive pension scheme for cocoa farmers, unlike the current system under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, which he claims unfairly deducts two kilos of cocoa from farmers for pension contributions.
“John Dramani Mahama is promising to give cocoa farmers a good pension package without taking any kilo of cocoa from them, unlike what the NPP government is doing,” he stated.
Hon. Opoku further criticized the current farm gate prices set by the government, describing them as exploitative. He assured cocoa farmers that the NDC would offer more reasonable prices for their produce if given the mandate. He also pledged to restore the free fertilizer policy, which was previously beneficial to farmers.
He concluded by urging all cocoa farmers to vote for NDC presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming December 7 general elections to ensure the implementation of these farmer-friendly policies aimed at improving their livelihoods.
