Ghana loses 625 million dollars due to poor cotton production

Tempane (UER), March 27, GNA - Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), at the weekend said Ghana lost about 625 million dollars last year because the country's cotton industry went dormant.

"The cotton sector is a major source of employment and income generation. It is estimated that Ghana has the potential to produce 250,000 tonnes of lint cotton in the medium term", he said. Mr Ahwoi was speaking at Tempane in the Garu Tempane District, where 93the White Gold" Campaign was launched by President John Atta Mills as part of the North Eastern Zone Projects and commitment by government to 93creating a cash crop economy for the North similar to what Cocoa has become for the southern sector of the country." The Minister expressed regret that the cotton industry suffered a set back during the past few years and said the disappointment and painful experiences of wasted labour and financial losses on the part of farmers would be a thing of the past.

Mr Ahwoi said Government did not only sympathize with the farmers who through the poor performance of cotton ginneries could not produce much and suffered the loss of income but was poised to bring smiles on their faces.

He said major policies had been made by Government and the North Eastern Zone, comprising, Kasenna Nankana District, Talensi Nabdam District, Bawku West District, Bawku Municipality, Garu Tempane District, Bongo District, Builsa District, East Mamprusi District and West Mamprusi District have been allocated to WIENCO Ghana Limited (Ltd) in partnership with GEO Cotton, a French company for the production of Cotton.

Mr Mac Kok, Managing Director, WIENCO Ghana Ltd, Said for over 21 years the company had been active in the agricultural sector and been involved in the production of improved seed varieties and farming inputs.

He said the partnership would ensure the training of farmers, provision of good seeds and farm inputs.

President Atta Mills, who is on a three day working visit to the Upper East Region to acquaint himself with development projects, said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would not renege on its promise to make life comfortable for Ghanaians.

He appealed to the people to support the Go vernment to develop the country, stressing on the massive developmental programmes the country was enjoying within the two years of its reign. President Mills expressed the hope that Ghanaians would not relent in giving the party another four-year mandate. Earlier, the President cut sod for work on the Tempane- Yabrogo-Woriyanga 10km road to start.