Sefwi Essam farmers call for transparency in cocoa spraying exercise

Sefwi Essam (WR), Nov. 5, GNA - Cocoa farmers in Sefwi Essam in the Bia District of Western Region, have called for fairness and transparency in the cocoa mass spraying so that all farmers could benefit from the exercise.

Nana Robert Kwaku Nyame, Gyasehene of Sefwi Essam, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, alleged that "we hear that insecticides allocation has reached the village but we do not know how it is distributed and which farms were sprayed".

He called on Government to investigate the matter to intensify those behind the diversion of the insecticides and bring them to book. Nana Nyame made the call at a durbar held in hounor of the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo during his three-day working tour of the District.

He said because cocoa farms in Sefwi Essam area were not sprayed yield for this cocoa season was low.

Nana Nyame commended government for increasing the price of cocoa to GHC200.00 per bag and called on the authorities to improve roads, education, health and other infrastructure for the development of the area. He appealed to the Ghana Cocoa Board to offer scholarships for children of cocoa farmers to enable them complete their education. Nana Nyame called for the creation of another district out of the Bia District due to the population increase and the expansion of the area.

Meanwhile, the youth of the area have threatened to embark on demonstration on November 15 to protest against government's inability to construct all-weather roads in the area.

Mr Francis Afari-Djan, a youth leader told GNA that even though the area contribute largely to the nation's Gross Domestic Product it has been neglected in the sharing of the national cake. Mr Aidoo advised the youth to use dialogue in seeking redress and said funding has been secured for the construction of a 43-kilometer road in the area.

He said government would also address the health, educational, and other needs of the area.

Mr Aidoo inspected a bridge on the main road linking Sefwi Wiawso and Dwenase that was damaged due to heavy rains and asked the Sefwi Wiawso District Assembly to repair the facility. The Minister toured Elluokrom, Asunendaa, Adjoafua, Kwamebikrom, Essam, Debiso, Oseikojokrom and Yawmatwa in the District. He was accompanied by Mr Michael Boampong, Member of Parliament for Bia, Mr Solomon Fuakye, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Juaboso, who has oversight responsibility over Bia following the death of the substantive DCE and Mr David Yaro, Chief Director of the Western Regional Coordinating Council.