Stop embezzling cocoa funds - Purchasing clerks told

Enchi (W/R), Sept. 9, GNA - Mr Osei Agyemang, Aowin Suaman District Officer of Armajaro 'A', a cocoa buying company, based at Enchi said the rampant embezzlement of funds by Cocoa Purchasing Clerks (CPC) was having a negative effect on the industry. He said, while some bolt away with such funds meant for the purchase of cocoa from farmers, others were unable to account for them. Mr Agyemang said these at a day's orientation session for CPC at Enchi on Tuesday.

He said 560 million cedis meant for the purchase of cocoa in the 2004/2005 season was misapplied by some CPC from the Armajaro 'A' office.

Mr Agyemang said though some of the suspects had been arrested and prosecuted, others had fled and left the debt unpaid. He, therefore, appealed to License Buying Companies (LBC) to look for alternative ways of purchasing cocoa to reduce the incident of embezzlement among CPCs.

He advised the CPC not to buy cocoa from neighbouring countries, since poor quality cocoa beans could ruin the industry. Mr Agyemang appealed to farmers to ensure that their cocoa beans were properly dried to enable them assist the nation meet its international obligations.