Minister warns against politicising the spraying of cocoa farms

Kukuom (B/A) Sept. 5 GNA - Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, has cautioned against the politicisation of the on-going cocoa spraying exercise in the Region.

He was speaking at a durbar organised in his honour by the chiefs and people at Kukuom in the Asunafo District of the Region as part of his familiarization tour of the District.

Nana Seinti urged cocoa farmers to help ensure that the spraying gangs performed to the satisfaction of all as the spraying exercise was meant to increase cocoa production.

It would be a great disservice to the nation if the spraying gangs should be biased in their operations, he said.

The Regional Minister reiterated that the government had farmers at heart because of their importance in the national economy and warned the spraying gangs of sanctions if they should exhibit any negative behaviour.

Nana Seinti said the government had earmarked 21 billion cedis for the rehabilitation of the 32-kilometre road from Norbekwaw Junction to Boako to link Norbekwaw, Tanoso, Sankore, Kukuom, Ayomso, Akrodie and Kasapin.

It would also facilitate the easy transportation of cocoa to the ports and the carting of foodstuffs to marketing centres.

Earlier, Nana Kwaku Aterkyi II, Omanhene of Kukuom, in a welcoming address said the traditional council was ready to release land for government projects.

Nana Aterkyi, a Land Economist, said the hospital at Kukuom was started by the community through communal labour and voluntary contributions but came to a standstill due to financial problems and was re-activated in the Busia regime.

The Omanhene appealed to the Regional Minister to ensure the provision of transformers to enable some of the towns in the area to enjoy electricity supply.

At Norbekwaw, the people made a number of requests including staff for the local clinic, a bridge to span river Tano to link Norbekwaw-Siana and a borehole for the town.

At Kwapong, the Regional Minister recalled an incidence some years ago when the youth of the town as a result of chieftaincy dispute, charged and beat up the Police personnel, set the Police Station ablaze leading to its closure and advised the people to change for the better if they wanted to see the re-opening of the station.

Nana Seinti was replying to an appeal by Mr Rexford Berko Senior, Assembly Member for Kwapong on behalf of Nananom for the re-opening of the Police Station.

Nana Seinti advised them to resolve the chieftaincy dispute before calling for the re-opening of the Police station.