The Tree Crop Development Authority which the Akufo-Addo led government seek to establish upon reelection will put six tree crops under one umbrella geared towards transforming lives of cocoa farmers.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia noted that the authority, coupled with other initiatives will engage in research, marketing and pricing of Coconut, Cashew, Mango, Rubber, Shea butter and Palm nut.
Addressing a durbar at Half Assini in the Jomoro Municipality as part of his two day visit of the Western Region, he stated that government is working hard to improve the lives of farmers with the Tree Crop Development Authority initiative.
“Cocoa gives the country good money. However, there are other crops that equally give us more money. They include Coconut, Cashew, and Mango, Shea butter, Rubber and Palm nut. So we want to have a development authority that will put these six tree crops under one umbrella, research on them, and work on competitive pricing as well as looking for a good market.
“So, just as COCOBOD is doing for the Cocoa sector, especially working tremendously at changing the lives of cocoa farmers, the Tree Crop Development Authority will be expected to do same.
“Nana, this area is noted for Coconut. Like any initiative that the Akufo-Addo Administration has implemented, we will commit to make this new development authority work for Ghanaians.
Cutting the sod for the Sameye barrier to Jaway Wharf Road, Dr. Bawumia also intimated that government will continue to give meaning to its ‘year of roads’ promise.
“This road is very critical and when put in good shape will contribute significantly to the development of Jomoro and other connecting districts. It is a combination of highways and feeder roads and is under GNPC financing. When completed, eighty percent of untarred roads in Jomoro would have been done”.
The 108.8 km road construction project, would be undertaken within 30 months by Messrs MYTURN Limited and Messrs Kingspok Company Limited.
Meanwhile, Former President John Dramani Mahama during the launch of his party manifesto, on Wednesday October 7, 2020, said a decision taken by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to stop ongoing cocoa road projects after assuming office has resulted in many of the communities and cocoa growing areas being inaccessible or have very poor road networks.
“This government has made no real effort to begin to create an economy that generates prosperity. There has been very little investment in innovation and creativity – the main drivers of prosperity. And we are still witnessing cases of institutional failure.
“I have travelled round the country, deep into the hinterlands, meeting chiefs and interacting with communities and stakeholder groups. Over the last four days, I have been here in the Western North Region, and because of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to stop ongoing cocoa road projects, for example, many of our communities and cocoa growing areas are inaccessible or have very poor road networks.
Harping on other challenges within the rural areas, John Mahama highlighted on his administration’s developmental projects.
“Many of these communities are also still without mobile network connectivity, denying the people, students, teachers and health workers access to call and internet services, in this age. This is precisely why, during my first term as President, I took aggressive steps to develop and consolidate our healthcare infrastructure, our educational infrastructure, our transport infrastructure and our digital infrastructure”.
John Dramani Mahama
