DCE confirms failure of Cocoa Spraying Exercise

The opposition NDC has been vindicated with the admission by a District Chief Executive that the mass cocoa spraying exercise undertaken last year was not successful.

The Atwima district executive- Charles Yeboah said government has identified some lapses in the exercise and would take steps to organise an effective exercise this year.

The NDC spokesperson for Agriculture Johnson Asiedu Nketia had consistently faulted the exercise, describing it as a failure. He challenged government over claims that the exercise was a success, noting that the sprayers refused to spray farms of people alleged to be supporters of the opposition.

At the first-ever agricultural fair last year, some farmers also expressed reservations with the exercise, and complained about the attitude of the sprayers and mode of spraying.

Government officials however insisted that the exercise was progressing smoothly, denying all the allegations. But the Atwima district executive says a number of shortcomings including petrol shortage, inadequate spraying machines and shortage of DDT.

Speaking during a tour of some communities, Mr. Yeboah warned those who would be engaged in the spraying exercise this year not to adopt the "Whom you know" attitude but should give equal treatment to every cocoa farmer.

The DCE appealed to farmers, who owned spraying machines to release them for the exercise to supplement those of the government.