Ghana’s Finance Minister, Mr Seth Terkper has insisted that government acted appropriately in importing cocoa beans from neighbouring Ivory Coast to supplement local output.
According to the Minister, “this is not the first time government is importing cocoa from La Côte D'Ivoire, it occurred in 2005 and 2008.”
Ghana imported 15,500 tons of light crop cocoa beans from La Cote D'Ivoire in the 2014/2015 crop year due to shortfalls in local production.
Ghana has been experiencing a shortfall in cocoa production in the past years due to smuggling, seasonal weather and pests.
The Minority in Parliament had demanded information about circumstances that led to the closure of two factories of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) when Mr Terkper appeared before the house, Tuesday, February 23.
The company temporarily shut down two of its processing plants due to what it described as ‘operational challenges’
Staff members of the company were directed by management to stay at home as part of their annual leave with effect from January 25, 2016.
But the Finance Minister said he is yet to meet management of Cocoa Processing Company some three weeks after the shutdown.
According news monitored on Accra based Joy Fm, the Minister said he had called an emergency board meeting together with the Chief Executive of the company to explain to him the reasons that led to the closure of CPC.
Minority members in parliament expressed disappointment over the finance Minister’s inability to provide information about circumstances that led to the closure of factories.
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