The Sefwi cocoa farmers association in the Western Region have welcomed with great joy, president Akufo-Addo’s intention to create small-scale cocoa processing industries across the cocoa-growing districts of our country.
President Akufo-Addo at the World Cocoa Day and Celebration of The 70th Anniversary of Ghana Cocoa Board in Kumasi said that as part of the 1-District-1-Factory programme, COCOBOD, and other private sector actors, will roll-out programmes that create small-scale cocoa processing industries across the cocoa-growing districts of our country.
”I challenge our enterprising youth to take advantage of this opportunity,” he added.
In an interview with Otec News, coordinator for the Sefwi cocoa farmers association, Mr. Fiifi kwarteng described the President’s intention to process cocoa for export as apt, adding that, it will help rebrand the industry for excellent value and create jobs for the youth of Sefwi.
According to him, the fulfilment of this promise will reduce the unemployment rate in the country and reduce the problem of rural urban migration.
He noted that most processing factories are situated in the city far from the source of raw materials and as such would be in the right direction for government to establish a cocoa processing factory at Sefwi Wiawso, an area which produces about 45% of Ghana’s cocoa.
”I am appealing to President Akufo-Addo not to promise and fail but to honor his promises to establish a cocoa processing factory for the people of the area. At least if he is able to give us just one cocoa processing company to serve the area, we will be appreciative,” he said.
Mr Fiifi Kwarteng intimated that politicians over the years have promise to build factories for the area but have all failed to honor their promises and entreated president Akufo-Addo to as part of the one district one factory, build a cocoa processing factory in at least one of their estimated five districts to benefit the people of Sefwi,” he added.
Source: otecfmghana.com/Kwaku Anane Jr.
