Over 2000 cocoa farmers to protest sale of Cocobod assets

Over 2000 Cocoa farmers in the Eastern region are planning to stage a massive demonstration in Koforidua against the sale of COCOBOD’s assets to Antartic Construction Company Limited, a private developer in the region for the construction of a shopping mall.

The Eastern regional President of the Ghana Cocoa Coffee Shea-Nut Farmers Association, Nana Obeng Akrofi told Starr News that "the deal smells [of] corruption and rot".

He added that the association has its office located in the building in contention.

According to him, the Association has petitioned COCOBOD to take immediate steps to halt the deal since the building is a bonafide property of the Cocoa Marketing Board, (CMB), under COCOBOD since 1960.

The building, located strategically in the central business city of the New Juaben Municipality, occupies a 1.06 acre land and serves as offices and accommodation for COCOBOD staff as well as other government agencies.

Currently, 20 staff of COCOBOD in the Eastern regional capital, Koforidua, have been rendered homeless following the sale of the building.

The building was previously used as the Regional office of COCOBOD and later turned into an accommodation facility for the staff.

The staff and other occupants of the building have been ordered by the Koforidua High Court to vacate the premises as the property.

A notice letter cited by Starr News dated 12/2/2016 and signed by the lawyer for the private developer, Isaac M. Larbi read " on the 8th of December, 2015 my office wrote a letter to you regarding the above subject matter(Notice to Vacate Premises) for and on behalf of my client (Mr. Joseph Kwasi Okyere A.K.A Antartic) who is now the owner of the entire building out of which you occupy and operate your office/business.

“This is to remind you that, the two months’ notice to quit the premises is still running and would end on the 10th of February 2016.

“We believe that you are feverishly looking for a place if you have not already found one. You have less than a month to vacate the premises and we believe that, you would comply with our request in order not to escalate this matter".

But a document produced by the Eastern regional office of Lands Commission and signed by Mr. Osei Owusu Peprah, assistant Lands Officer suggests that, the property belongs to PZ Cussons Ghana not COCOBOD.

"The site is not a state Land but vested in the President of Ghana in trust for the New Juaben Stool by virtue of Executive Instrument No.195 dated 1st November 1961.The site falls within a deeds of Assignment dated 6th May, 1957 and made between PZ & Co Ltd as Assignor and PZ & Co. Ghana Ltd as Assignee. Accra document no. B 488 refers". However, many suspects foul play in the deal.

The suit filed in Court did not cite COCOBOD Company as occupants of the building instead cited the occupants as squatters who are occupying the building and offices.

Sources within COCOBOD indicate that though complaints have been made to the authorities, they are reluctant to file a stay of execution and further protect the property under contention.