Don’t politicize cocoa taskforce – Dr Baah

Dr Francis Baah, Executive Director of Cocoa Health and Extension Division of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has called on the District Cocoa Taskforce Members to avoid introducing politics in their operations.

He said any act of introducing politics in the Taskforce could undermine and defeat the purposes for which it was established.

Dr Baah said this at the inauguration of the 16-member Cocoa Taskforce for Agona Swedru District of the Central Region.

The taskforce comprises representatives of Police, Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), Cocoa Health and Extension Officers, Chief farmers, Representatives of District Chief Executives (DCEs) National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and cocoa farmers.

The members are from the Agona East, Agona West, Awutu -Senya West and Gomoa East Districts.

The taskforce would among others ensure fair distribution of free fertilizers, chemicals and others inputs from COCOBOD to farmers without any hindrance to increase cocoa production.

Dr Baah said the taskforce was created to ensure the nation achieves its expected cocoa production targets.

Dr Baah urged cocoa farmers to stop sending complaints to DCEs and political party chairmen but should deal directly with the Taskforce to enhance productivity.

The Executive Director called on cocoa farmers to allow their aged cocoa trees to be cut down and replanted them with new hybrid seedlings.

Dr Eugene Ofori Gyamfi, Director of Ghana Cocoa Board, said this year 60 million hybrid cocoa seedlings had been nursed for distribution to farmers free of charge as against 50 million seedlings distributed to cocoa farmers the previous year.

Dr James Kutuate, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Operations of COCOBOD, expressed the hope that the Taskforce would ensure a fair distribution of cocoa inputs to increase cocoa yield in the coming years.

He said inclusion of BNI and Ghana Police would help to clampdown illicit activities of unscrupulous people who would attempt to destabilize efforts to increase cocoa production.