Cassava farmers want adequate shares in Ayensu Starch Company

Members of Ayensu Cassava Farmers Association (ACFA) have expressed the need for the government to allow them to own adequate shares in the Ayensu Starch Company (ASCO) at Awutu Bawjiase in the Central Region.

A press release signed by Mr Samuel Dodd, Chairman of ASCO and copied to the Ghana News Agency stated that documents in regard to the establishment of the factory, a President Special Initiative (PSI), clearly indicated that members of ACFA had to increase their shares to enable them to take over the factory and manage it themselves.

The release said for stakeholders of ASCO to implement the document in this regard, the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund in collaboration with Denmark International Development Agency (DANIDA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and European Union (E U) will hold a day's stakeholders dialogue meeting at the Ministry of Trade and Industry on March 14.

The release stated that "the meeting will deliberate on issues including the failure of the government to fulfill her promise for the farmers to own adequate shares in the factory; and to provide platform for the farmers to register their concern on the status-quo of ASCO-ACFA relationship."

According to the release, cassava farmers hope the forth coming meeting will address their concerns to enable them to grow more cassava to feed the factory to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.