Cocoa farmers worried about fake insecticides

Adiembra Number Two (E/R), Jan. 13, GNA – The Odikro of Adiembra Number Two in the Asamankese Traditional Area, on Friday called on the Police to apprehend persons selling fake chemicals for cocoa cultivation.

Baffour Yentumi Ampofo II, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) shortly after her enthronement at Adiembra Number Two, amidst tight security to preserve the sanctity of the occasion.

Baffour Yentumi, 59, was known in private life as Mrs. Salomey Oparebea, a farmer, baker and contractor. She swore the oath of allegiance and secrecy to Nana Kwaku Amoah III, Chief of Asamankese, who was represented by Baffour Obeng Awuakye, Wirempemhene also the general administrator of the Asamankese palace.

The Odikro (sub-chief) popularly called “IGP”, said some unidentified persons were going around cocoa growing villages with fake brands of "confidor", an insecticide mostly used on cocoa farms, and other agro-chemicals on the market.

According to her, the fake insecticides containers bore the same label as the original, but was very harmful to cocoa trees and pods.

She noted that the fake chemicals were most common on the Asamankese, Suhum, Kibi and Akim Oda markets.

Baffour Yentumi stated that vegetables, especially garden eggs produced from the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District had a sour taste and wondered if it was due to fake chemicals.

She appealed to the general public to promptly pass on to the appropriate authorities, any information on such fake products for action to be taken.

According to her, there were several fake products on the Ghanaian market, and said it was high time Ghanaians sat up to stop the activities of fraudsters.