Tonnes of Cocoa Beans Rot

Tonnes Of Cocoa beans worth millions of Ghana cedis have been locked up in major cocoa growing areas int the Western regions due to poor roads.

A visit to some cocoa farms revealed that the commodity was left to rot as farmers are unable to cart the produce to market centres.

In an interview with the Depot Keeper of Produce Buying Company (PBC) in the Amenfi West District, Mr Samuel Obeng, he said the situation was alarming.

According to him, in the last one month, activities of the company stalled because it could not carry out expected sales due to the poor road condition.

The 48-year-old farmer revealed that the last time the company made significant sales of 1,600 bags of cocoa, it had to struggle because the cocoa beans had to be sent to Samreboi, where cocoa marketing companies are stationed.

Mr Samuel Obeng explained that persistent rainfall compounded the deplorable state of the roads, and as a result, 1,800 bags of cocoa have since been locked up in the depot.

In addition, he said 1,400 bags of cocoa beans purchased for subsequent transportation to market centres have also been locked up in the bush and in the homes of farmers due to the bad nature of the roads.

One of the chief farmers in the Ellembelle District, Mr Samuel Agyepong blamed successive governments for doing nothing about the deplorable state of cocoa roads in the area.

He attributed the negative development to the growing number of challenges inhibiting the prospects of the agricultural sector in Ghana

The Assembly Member of the Asomase Electoral Area in the Ellembelle District, Festus Bosomtwi, blamed the situation on neglect of cocoa growing communities.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amenfi West, Samuel Victor Akwesi Meisu said some of the deplorable roads have been awarded on contract.

Nana Cudjoe, chief of Gonokrom, appealed to government to consider tarring all the major roads in the area.

Source: The Finder