President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday asked the new Board of Directors of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBD) to bring about the needed change in operations of the cocoa industry to make it beneficial to Ghanaians.
He said the industry has been the life-blood of the country for the past 100 years and has been vital in national development.
Unfortunately, the President said, it lost its way and became so politicised and corrupted by the officials involved to the extent that monies that accrued from the industry for development were diverted into wasteful ventures.
President Kufuor was swearing into office eight out of the 10-member Board of Directors of COCOBOD at the State House in Accra.
He said the industry provided employment for both Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians on the farms and education, health and other basic infrastructure in the country.
"Under your stewardship make the necessary positive changes in the industry for the people to realise that the industry is available for the benefit of all Ghanaians and the era when officials enriched themselves at the expense of the cocoa farmer is over."
President Kufuor said the COCOBOD scholarship scheme should not only benefit wards of cocoa farmers but also brilliant children from other areas as well as brilliant but needy children and humanitarian activities.
He said the Board should deliberate on ways to increase the processing of raw beans from the current 18 per cent to at least 30 per cent.
President Kufuor said the government was taking measures to make the Akuafo Cheque system more operational and useful to the farmers by empowering rural banks and micro financing institutions to take over from the major financial institutions that have withdrawn from the system in the rural areas due to malpractice.
"The Akuafo cheque system is a laudable idea which reduced the cheating of cocoa farmers by purchasing clerks."
He said another problem in the industry was the award of contracts that were shrouded in secrecy. Now it should be made transparent through an effective tender system and the government would keep an eagle eye on their operation.
Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II, Kwahumanhene and Chairman of the Board, pledged to work diligently to attain the objectives of the industry and endeavour to make the interest of farmers the cornerstone of their work.
He said the Board would review all aspects of the industry that have hampered its growth and all institutions within it, especially the marketing of the produce.
