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Headed by Mr.Harry Addo,the Western North Regional Communication Directorate of the ruling New Patriotic Party has said that,the opposition NDC’s incompetency nearly collapsed the Cocoa industry which the NPP according to him is restoring now.
In a maiden press conference held yesterday which was mainly focused on the historical achievements of the NPP government led by H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,it was announced that, the cocoa sector of our economy is transforming the living standards of the cherished Cocoa farmers.
According to the regional communication officer, the NDC through the Minority caucus led by Hon Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Ranking Member of Finance Committee of Parliament painted false picture about the state of Cocoa farmers in the Country.
Mr.Harry Addo maintained that , it is on record that the National Democratic Congress has had no right policy in the cocoa sector since the inception of the 1992 Constitution but always travels on the van of TONA (TALK ONLY NO ACTION) to win the heart of the hardworking farmers for political gains but always perform abysmally poor in the cocoa sector when the nod is given to rule.
No wonder their stewardship from 31st December 1981 to 7th January 2001 (19 years) witnessed the lowest Cocoa production in the history of Ghana which was 395,000 metric tonnes.
In fact, the New Patriotic Party under the stewardship of H.E John Agyekum Kufour with the right policies was able to increase production from 395,000 metric tonnes to 710,000 metric tonnes in the 2008 cocoa season and projected an increase to over One metric tonne in the 2010/2011 cocoa season as the result of the government’s right policies implemented, like the Cocoa Mass Spraying Exercise, Distribution of Free Cocoa Nursery to the farmers, mass cocoa pruning exercise, intensive cocoa extension exercises, subsidizing of fertilizers making it accessible and affordable to the farmers and limiting the rate of smuggling in the sector and lastly, giving the right farm gate prices to the farmers.
Setting the records straight,he said the former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD under the stewardship of H.E John Agyekum Kufour, Mr. Anthony Fofie made it known, through his publication dated 15th January 2009 (https://www.
This projected and achieved One million metric tonnes was reduced to 850, 000 metric tonnes in 2016 under the son of mismanagement government led by H.E John Dramani Mahama. This translated into a loss of 150,000 metric tonnes in 5 years under the incompetent H.E John Dramani Mahama regime.
NDC HAS NO RIGHT POLICY IN THE COCOA SECTOR
“Please kindly assist us to plead to the ‘loud-mouth’ NDC, to tell us just one policy they have introduced in the cocoa sector that has increased production, created jobs for the youth in the cocoa regions, and helped to transform the living stand of the farmers in the said sector.
It is clear that the (P)NDC in their over twenty-seven years on the whelm of power has no existing policy in the cocoa sector.
It is remarkable to note that, the (P)NDC’s records in the cocoa growing regions are:
Poor roads
High unemployment rate
Lack of Cocoa scholarships for the cocoa farmers’ wards
Lack of communication networks .He added.
HISTORIC POLICIES THAT ARE CREATING JOBS AND POSITIVELY TRANSFORMING THE LIVING STANDARDS OF CHERISHED FARMERS;
COCOA REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Employment created by this initiative in our region, Western North.
Bia West District-1,774
Bia East District- 2,222
Juaboso District- 1,850
Bodi District- 2,827
Suaman District- 2,200
Aowin District- 744
Akontombra- 2,380
Wiawso -1,300
Bekwai District-1,430
Bibiani -619
TOTAL = 17,346
The New Patriotic Party he said ,has employed a total number of 17,346 youth under the historic Cocoa Rehabilitation program in the region and pays each worker a monthly salary of GHC650.00.
This translates into GHC11,274,900 per month as the total amount of money that the government, through COCOBOD pays to the Region in the form of salaries. This huge amount of money boosts the economy of the region and reduces the rate of crime as well as the dependency rate.
Kwasi Afrifa who used to be a worker under this initiative was able to save part of his monthly salary and today, he has been able to construct 2 rooms self-contained in the Bibiani – Anhwiaso – Bekwai District.
It is worth noting that, the total number of employees in the Rehabilitation Program as quoted doesn’t include the Cocoa Mass Spraying workers which were also introduced by our government, and the workers under Disease Spotters and Technical Assistance category.
TOTAL NUMBER OF BENEFICIARY FARMERS UNDER THE COCOA REHABILITATION PROGRAM IN THE REGION- WESTERN NORTH
Bia West- 3,599
Bia East – 1,800
Bodi –1,739
Aowin-1945
Suaman – 218
Akontombra-4,112
Wiawso – 2000
Bekwai- 2,047
Bibiani – 2,201
The government through COCOBOD has been able to enroll a total number of 19,661 farmers into the program aside from the Juaboso District data.
It is worth sharing that, COCOBOD gives GHC1000 per hectare to each farmer as compensation for rehabilitating their farms and an extra GHC1000 to the traditional land owners.
TOTAL FARM SIZE COVERED BY THE COCOA REHABILITATION PROGRAM IN WESTERN NORTH REGION
BIA WEST- 4352.88 ha
BIA EAST – 2800 ha
BODI- 4000 ha
AOWIN- 2264 ha
AKONTOMBRA- 5,421 ha
WIAWSO – 2100 ha
BEKWAI – 2,220 ha
Bibiani – 1348.61 ha
Suaman – 2840 ha
With the exclusion of the Juaboso district, a total of 34,498.49 ha of cocoa farms have been covered.
DISTRIBUTION AND PLANTING OF FREE PLANTAIN SUCKERS FOR THE FARMERS
As a way of providing shields for the planted cocoa nurseries at the various cocoa farms, the government through COCOBOD procures and plant plantain suckers free of charge for our cherished farmers. The cocoa farmer becomes the owner of the planted plantains. In reality, our farmers are making a lot of money from the sale of these plantains.
COCOA FARMERS’ PENSION SCHEME
As usual of the naysayer’s pathological posture of the NDC, they opposed and laugh over the idea of the cocoa pension scheme proposed by our government. Today, as the data on grounds has confirmed, Cocobod is implementing the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme which will serve as ‘anidaso’ for our aged cocoa farmers in the country.
“We always think outside the box for effective and transformational policies that transform and secure the lives of our farmers.
COCOA HAND POLLINATION PROGRAM
This intensified hand pollination program has been of great help to our cherished farmers.
OUR HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE ON ROADS IN THE REGION
BIA WEST DISTRICT
Kramokrom – Tigare (Yesukrom) Road
Adjoafoa – Asanteman Road
HennehKwanta- Aginkwamo Road
Essam Barrier – Oseikojokrom Road
Yamatwa Kwanta – Kaase Road
Abrewakrom – teacher Amankrom road
BIA EAST DISTRICT
Debiso – Adabokrom road
Adabokrom – Kaase Road
Kwasare junction – Kofi-Yeboah Road
JUABOSO DISTRICT
Bechemaa Barrier – Elluokrom Road
Proso Nkwanta – Kwaokrom Road
Juaboso Town Roads
Bozain Kwanta – Bozain town Roads
Afere Junction – Amoaya Road
BODI DISTRICT
Yayaso Junction – Bomplex Road
Aferewa Junction – Yawbrefo Junction Road
Bokabo – Besease Road
Sui Ano – Bodi Road
SUAMAN DISTRICT
Dadieso Town Roads
Juaboso – Dadieso Road
AOWIN MUNICIPAL
Enchi to Elluibo road.
Enchi to Kordjourkrom road
Enchi to Akontombra Nkwanta on Dadieso Road
SEFWI AKONTOMBRA DISTRICT
Wiawso – Akontombra Road
Kolbas – Oppongkrom Road
Akontombra – Dadieso Road
Nsawora – Yawkrom Road
Nsawora – Asanteman Road
Yawkrom – Bodi Junction Road
Bopa Kwanta – Fordjourkrom Road
Bawakrom Junction – Besiba Road
Bowohomoden Junction – Bowohomoden Road
Bokaso – Bosompim Road
Bokaso – Adukwasi Road
Tanokrom Junction – Dampteykrom Road
SEFWI WIAWSO MUNICIPAL
Bosomoinso junction-Bosomoinso Road
Penakrom-Futa Road
Wiawso-Amafie Road
Wiawso town roads Road
Dwenase – Nsuonsua Road
Asafo – Achienchen Road
Asawinso – Kojina – Essakrom Road
Punikrom – Keteboi Road
BIBIANI-AHWIASO-BEKWAI MUNICIPAL
Asawinso A – Mera- Road
Subiri Nkwanta – Chirano Road
Pataboso Junction – Kumkumso Road
Bibiani Town roads
Tanoso – Adupri Road
The evidence as stated above and being witnessed by the people of Western North Region, is loud and clear, that, our achievements in the road sector in the region are unmatched as compared to that of any other government since 1957.
It is well established as per the facts laid before you in this press statement that, the government, our government, and your government have done extremely well by increasing the farm gate price per a bag of Cocoa to GHC800.00 taking into considering these advanced and expensive interventions he is implementing in the sector.
It is worth stating, that, the farmers during the NDC regime didn’t benefit from the following initiative as they are doing now. These policies weren’t in existence in their era but failed to increase the price of cocoa to the deserved level of the farmers.
1. Massive Cocoa Rehabilitation Exercise
2. Massive Employment in the Cocoa Growing Regions as we are witnessing now
3. Mass Hand Pollination Exercise
4. Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme
5. Massive Road Construction works
6. Decentralization of Scholarship
7. Payment of GHC1000 per hector to farmers for Rehabilitating their farms
8. Payment of Compensations to traditional farmland owners
9. Distribution and Planting of plantain Suckers free of charge for the farmers
10. Free SHS policy”.He concluded.
