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Coconut theft on the rise in WR – Reg. Minister laments
The Western Regional Minister and Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC), MrKwabenaOkyereDarko-Mensah,has directed the Nzema East, Jomoro and EllembelleAssemblies to take immediate steps to check the theft of coconut on farms in the Nzema corridors.
He noted that, the stealing of coconut by some unscrupulous persons, was an affront to programmes to restore and promote an industry that has huge potentials to address the economic and social needs of the people especially farmers and investors in the region.
Mr Darko-Mensah, gave the directive following complaints by the Jomoro Coconut Hub about thefts of coconuts on their farms.
The complaint was lodged at the launch of the 2nd International Coconut Festival Ghana themed ‘Repositioning Ghana’s coconut sector for accelerated industrilisation agenda” at Alabokazo in the Ellembelle District last Friday.
Mr Darko-Mensah added “REGSEC directs all the three municipal and district assemblies in Nzema East, Jomoro and Ellembelle to mount road barriers to check thetransportation of coconut from these areas.The stealing of coconut must stop on our farms, we will not allow that. Anyone transporting coconut from these areas, must show receipts of where is coming from.”
He indicated that the region had distributed about five millioncoconut seedlings to yield about $100 per tree, saying that “farmers need the hybrid seedlings which were disease – resilient.”
Plans to add value to coconut, Mr Darko-Mensah said, were ongoing andhoped that, with the support of Ghana Tree Crop Authority, the industry would be revived with the establishment of factories, stressing “we will do it with coconut and create jobs and market for the farmers.”
The Regional Minister told the participants that happily, the Senior High Schools had also adopted the cultivation of coconut.
‘With Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) the African Coconut Group and Youth in coconut value chain, we believed we will tell a success storywith coconut.”
In an interview with the Chairman of the Jomoro Coconut Hub,Francis Aliefe, he recalled that, the theft of coconut which took place mostly in the nights,reached itheight about two years ago, and mentioned Anochie,Takenta, Nawule, Ndusuazo, Ellenda,Eguazo and Half Assini as area noted for such crime.
He told The Spectator that initially, the thieves stole the copra on farms but, now climbed thetrees to harvestbunches of fresh coconut.
According to him reports had been made to the District Police Command, but, the situation remained the same.
Commending the Regional Minister for the directive, he, however, suggested a multi- stakeholder approachcomprising the chiefs, police, the Jomoro Municipal Assembly and the judiciary, for permanent solution to the matter.
He stated for example that, anytime culprits were taken to court, they were made to sign a bond of good behaviour and let -off the hook, but regretted that “the situation continues and is alarming.”
Mr Aliefe continued “We are suffering; our incomes and future investment are going to criminals who have not shed any sweat. We have suffered for nothing. Coconut creates jobs for every household, indeed, it’s themainstay of the economy inthe Nzema enclave.
“We need more investments but how do we move forward with these criminal activities.The good newsis that investors are prepared to come but we need to protectthe coconut plantations, maintain supply of the raw material base, to make the industry attractive and for our incomes and economy to grow and flourish.”
From Clement Adzei Boye, Alabokazo
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
