LCBC complain of shortage of jute sacks

Enchi (W/R) Jan.5, GNA - Licensed Cocoa Buying Companies (LCBCs) say large quantities of dried cocoa beans are locked up on farms in the Aowin-Suaman and Dadieso Districts because of shortage of juke sacks for bagging them for evacuation.

District Officers of the companies disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during visits to some cocoa buying centres in the two districts on Monday.

The companies included Akuafo Adamfo Company, CocoExco Limited, Armajaro Ghana Limited (AGL), Federated Commodities Limited (FEDCO), Produce Buying Company (PBC), Adwumapa Buyers Limited, Kuapa Company and Cocoa Merchant Limited.

The companies appealed to the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) to supply them with jute sacks, twines and stencil ink to facilitate evacuation of cocoa from the farms.

At Enchi, Mr Agyemang Kwasi Owusu, district officer of Federated Commodities, said he had bagged cocoa beans in 4,470 fertilizer sacks, which he purchased but these were not sufficient. Mr Kwasi Kudom of Adwumapa Buyers Limited said his company needed about 3,400 juke sacks.

Mr Anthonio David, Zonal Manager of CocoExco, advised management of Licensed Buying Companies to employ qualified purchasing clerks so that quality cocoa beans would be purchased to protect the country's image on the world market.

Mr Ernest Dakura of Akuamfo Adamfo said the poor nature of roads in some cocoa growing areas in the two districts is making evacuation difficult.

He mentioned some of the cocoa growing communities with bad roads as Abochia, Akwakum, Bronikrom and Boiano. Mr frank Polly, accountant if Akuafo Adamfo, urged the LBC and farmers to patronise the Akuafo Cheque system to ensure the smooth running of the cocoa business in the country.