DCE warns cocoa spraying gangs

Nkwantaso (B/A) Sept 17, GNA - Squadron Leader Benjamin Anane Asamoah (rtd), Dormaa District Chief Executive (DCE) has warned of stiff penalties for any cocoa sprayer or supervisor who would attempt to divert any chemicals meant for the cocoa spraying exercise. Such acts, he said, had the tendency not only to derail government policy but also to discredit the government, defeating the laudable objectives of the programme.

The DCE gave the warning at a meeting with 90 spraying gang members and supervisors at Nkwantaso, near Kwaku-Anya in Nkrankwanta cocoa district to acquaint himself with their problems and how to address them.

Squadron Leader Asamoah acknowledged President J.A. Kufuor's personal commitment to seeing that the cocoa industry regained its glory in quality and production.

He said the District Assembly and the district directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would collaborate to strengthen the process of monitoring and supervision of all segments of agriculture in the district to ensure that farmers received their fair share of technology and market.

The DCE called on farmers, opinion leaders and traditional authorities to support government efforts at revamping the agricultural sector and making Ghana self-sufficient in food and foreign exchange earnings. The chief cocoa farmer, Nana D.D. Oppong, called on his colleague cocoa farmers to work hand-in-hand with the gangs to ensure maximum coverage of their farms. He appealed to government to add chemicals for 'Akate' during subsequent exercises to rid their farms of all pests and diseases. 17 Sept. 03