Cocoa farmers are demanding action from government to develop their communities.

Ghana is the world’s second largest producer of cocoa – the main ingredient for chocolate production.  In fact 30 percent of the world’s cocoa output comes from Tetteh Quarshie’s Ghana.

Ghana makes more than 1.5 billion dollars in revenues from cocoa export each year. This represents about one-third of the country’s total export revenues.

Money from the sector has been used in supporting the country’s budget annually.

But most rural cocoa growing communities lack basic amenities like electricity, clean water, and mobile telephone network.

There are also poor educational infrastructures for children, homes built of mud showing deep cracks, and lack of or ill equipped healthcare facilities.

The above issue of under development in cocoa growing communities is the focus of the first part of our hotline documentary series titled: “POOR MILLONAIRES,” which airs on JOY FM on Thursday at 8:30 am.

The second part airs next week, same time.

As Ghana marks Farmers’ Day on Friday, 5^th December, the story will also air on the Joy news channel on Multi TV at 7pm.  

Cocoa farmers in the Ashanti and Western Regions are featured in the documentary. Other stakeholders interviewed include: Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa, Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie; Cordinator of the Ghana Cocoa Platform, Rita Owusu Amankwaah; Executive Director of Agric Entrepreneurship Campaigning Group, Agro Mindset Organisation, David Asare Asiamah; and Rural Development Practitioner Bright Wireko Brobby.