Techiman cocoa farmers petition gov’t

The Cocoa Farmers Association of Techiman, has petitioned government to intervene in order for Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to rescind its decision to relocate the Techiman Cocoa District Office to the western side of Brong-Ahafo Region.

The Association, with a numerical strength of 3000 in 100 societies, each comprising 30 members in the Techiman, Wenchi, Nkoranza South and the Kintampo North Municipalities, Nkoranza North, Kintampo South and Techiman North Districts said they prefer to have their own District which has been in Techiman since 1983.

The petition was jointly signed by Messrs Kwasi Arhin, Anthony Twi, Nana Appiah Zachariah, Twi Brempong and Haruna Afram, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser and Assistant Secretary and copied to Ghana News Agency (GNA).

The petition claimed that “the Techiman District is now the leading cocoa growing area in the Region that has made youth participation in agriculture increased tremendously”.

“Ironically, the new list of towns from COCOBOD which was released recently for the establishment of new offices, we found out that Techiman’s name was conspicuously missing to the disbelief of our numerous farmers.”

According to the petition, last year a delegation from COCOBOD embarked on a familiarisation tour in Techiman to ascertain the possibilities of re-opening the abandoned Cocoa District Office.

It said the Techiman Traditional Council therefore donated a free office accommodation which has since been renovated for the purpose.

It stated the Techiman Traditional Council also allocated 400-acre land at Kuntunuso in the Techiman South Municipality for seed garden (production) unit to avoid farmers travelling long distances for the service.

The petitioners therefore appealed to the COCOBOD to re-open the office, which would motivate the farmers to enhance production.

The petition also requested the COCOBOD to establish Quality Control Division in the District to enable the farmers to seal the cocoa beans to get good records because “we have more than 9000 acres of B class of cocoa and 2000 C class being produced in the District”.

The petitioners embarked on a peaceful protest march with placards of various inscriptions like; “we need our office”, “we need quality control office at Techiman” and “we cannot produce cocoa under a different district”.

They marched through the principal streets of Techiman Township and ended up at the office of the Municipal Assembly to present a copy of the petition which was received on behalf of Mr Philip Oppong Amponsah, the Municipal Chief Executive who assured them that steps would be taken for the appropriate response.

Mr Thomas Tweneboah Koduah, Regional Manager of Cocoa Health and Extension Division of COCOBOD, told the GNA that “the establishment of Cocoa District Office is in the hands of COCOBOD Management in Accra, so the Regional Office cannot comment”.