The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has expressed skepticism regarding former President John Dramani Mahama’s innocence concerning the deteriorating condition of cocoa roads in the country.
This response follows remarks from Joyce Bawah Mogtari on X, an aide to the former president, advocating for Mahama’s candidacy in the 2024 general elections to enhance cocoa sector growth.
Expressing his views on the X platform as well, Mr. Ahiagbah questioned how blameless President Mahama is on the woes in the cocoa industry.
“66 years, who bears the responsibility? Who has dominated the majority of these 66 years? How blameless is H.E. Mahama in this discourse you aim to initiate? Is he unfamiliar with the issue you are attempting to attribute to others? Is this a newfound concern or has it persisted over time? If it has been a longstanding issue, what actions did he take when he served as Vice President and President for eight years?
Richard Ahiagbah
“Please don’t tell us that under H.E. John Mahama, contracts were awarded to construct Cocoa roads because such unfunded contracts were the last ditch effort to acquire votes in 2016. Finally, what is the agenda for Savannah and Bole Bamboi? The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration has delivered the Savannah Region to the good people of Gonjaland and is working to bring it to its deserved glory. What do Savannah & and Bole Bamboi deserve? @joycebawah, let’s begin from here! Good Morning my sister!”
Richard Ahiagbah
Bawah Mogtari, earlier, emphasized that given Ghana’s 66 years of independence, the cocoa sector deserves significant improvement. Former President Mahama had previously made commitments to develop cocoa roads in cocoa-growing areas and establish cocoa processing factories. Bawah Mogtari welcomed these promises as positive developments.
“My Old Uncle who has always lived and worked in a Cocoa growing area is super excited about this development and so are his adult children! Let’s help @JDMahama to deliver on this promise to the people within the Cocoa growing community and for Ghana! Such developments will surely help deliver on the #24HourWorkingEconomy.”
Bawah Mogtari
Joyce Bawa
Former President Mahama noted the deplorable condition of roads in cocoa-growing districts, accusing the government of neglecting funding for construction projects following an audit of awarded contracts.
“When I was Vice President, all chiefs were demanding improvement in roads. So I promised that I would institute the cocoa roads policy if I became President. It was to ensure $250 million, the 2 billion dollar syndicated cocoa loan is set aside for road infrastructure. We ensured that the Western Region got a chunk of the project. The NPP government came and halted the project for auditing. It took more than four years for them to clear the contractors. But some of the roads that were halfway done have further deteriorated.”
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Addressing residents of Essam in Bia East District as part of his “Building Ghana Tour”, Mr. Mahama has pledged to restore the program when voted into power.
“We started the Esam Town Roads to a point, I am not sure they have continued. The Bono and Ahafo Regions have similar concerns. If I become President we will reactivate the project and get the contractors back on site.”
John Dramani Mahama
Cocoa Roads In Ghana
Ghana, renowned for its cocoa production, faces challenges in maintaining robust infrastructure in its cocoa-growing regions. Cocoa-related infrastructure, including roads, has been a focal point in the national discourse. Many cocoa-producing districts grapple with deplorable road conditions, impacting the transportation of cocoa beans from farms to processing centers.
The state of these roads not only hampers the efficiency of the cocoa supply chain but also affects the livelihoods of farmers and the overall cocoa sector’s productivity. Despite various promises and commitments from political leaders, the actual improvement of cocoa-related infrastructure has been inconsistent.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, during his tenure, emphasized the need to develop cocoa roads and allocated funds from the cocoa syndicated loan for this purpose. However, concerns persist about the effectiveness of these initiatives and the enduring challenges faced by cocoa-producing communities.
Addressing the state of cocoa-related infrastructure in Ghana is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa industry, supporting farmers, and fostering economic growth in these regions. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, private stakeholders, and local communities are essential to enact meaningful and lasting improvements in cocoa-related infrastructure across the country.
