Man with mass cocoa spraying chemicals arrested

Tepa (Ash), July 25, GNA - The Tepa Police have arrested a man who was allegedly found with sachets of 'Ridomil' and 'Nordox', some chemicals for the mass cocoa spraying exercise at Achawkrom and Bosikese in the Ahafo-Ano North District.

The chemicals supplied free of charge by the government should be in the custody of only the gangs.

The suspect, Augustine Akwasi Amankwaah, 42, a trader at Manfo, was arrested last Thursday at Achawkrom by some concerned citizens led by Nana Kwame Manu, Chief of the town. According to a Police source, the man had been visiting the town since the mass cocoa spraying exercise started. The source said the people of the town who were mostly farmers suspected him of secretly collecting some of the chemicals from some gang leaders for sale.

On July 19, when he was about to leave the town after his usual visit, the people confronted him and after searching his bag at the back of his motorbike, found 105 sachets of Ridomil and a sachet of Nordox. When the people asked him how he came by the items, he could not explain and so they arrested and handed him over to the Police. According to the Police, he confessed buying the items from two gang leaders at Achawkrom and Bosikese. The two are on the run. 25 July 07