Rehabilitate Cocoa Roads - Chief Farmer tells government


The Western Regional Chief Farmer, Nana Nicholas Cobbinah has stressed the need for the government as matter of urgency to rehabilitate cocoa roads and bridges in the Region. 

Nana Cobbinah pointed out that Western is the largest cocoa producing Region in Ghana and the upgrading of the cocoa roads will further up the production of the commodity for the country to again attain the one million-ton mark it had some time ago. 

The Western Regional Chief Farmer made the appeal when he and his District Chief Farmers as well as their female counterparts paid a courtesy call on the new Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama at his palace. 

The visit, apart from serving as a platform to formally welcome Nana Bumagama doubled as an avenue for the Regional Chief Farmer and his group and the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council to talk about the right way farmers can acquire lands for their operations in the traditional area. 

Radio Ghana’s Correspondent, Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that   the meeting observed that the proper acquisition of land will end the tension that at times characterizes the relationship between a number of farmers and some chiefs in the Sefwi area. 

The 83-year-old Nana Nicholas Cobbinah who is affectionately called “Akokora Abrantie” for the energy he exudes at his age equally entreated the powers that be to put the Wiawso-Amafie road as well as other roads in good shape for enhanced socio-economic activities in the Western Region. 

The Chief Regional Farmer commended the government and COCOBOD for giving free fertilizers to cocoa farmers. Nana Cobbinah was particularly grateful to the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Dr Stephen K. Opuni and the National Chief Farmer, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari for their immense support to cocoa farmers in the country.  

Touching on Bonuses, Nana Cobbinah asked that action should be expedited in their payment to farmers to further motivate them to serve the country. 

The Omanhene, Katakyie Bumagama who ascended the Sefwi-Wiawso stool in March this year following the death of his predecessor, Nana Nkuah Okumdom asked the government to construct cocoa village and cocoa clinic in his traditional area as token of appreciation for their contribution to the cocoa sub-sector of the country’s economy. 

Katakyie Bumagama asked Nana Cobbinah to impress it on farmers to respect the rules and regulations pertaining to land acquisition for agricultural activities in his traditional area to make it possible for farmers to ply their trade without any hindrance. 

The Omanhene also dropped a hint that cocoa farmers in the Sefwi area will be registered to enable his traditional council to relate to them appropriately. 

GBC