COCOBOD releases bonuses to cocoa farmers

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBD) announced on Thursday that the second tranche of the 2007/08 crop year bonuses for all cocoa farmers has been released to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) for payment to the farmers. A statement released by the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Mr Tony Fofie, reminded all LBCs that failure to pay bonuses to cocoa farmers was a serious malpractice under the regulations and guidelines on internal marketing of cocoa. �Any cocoa farmer who has not yet received payment for the bonuses should report the LBC to the nearest regional or district offices of the Quality Control Company of COCOBOD,� it said. It advised defaulting LBCs to pay all outstanding bonuses to cocoa farmers without any further delay or risk withdrawal of licence and criminal prosecution.