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Cocoa Abrabopa holds AGM, urges COCOBOD to strengthen its productivity programme
Cocoa Abrabopa Association (CAA), a farmer-based organisation has held its 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a call on the government and COCOBOD to strengthen its Productivity Enhancement Programs and make available timely release and distribution of subsidized inputs to farmers.
They also appealed to the government to make cocoa farming attractive for the youth to engage in it.
Held in Danyame in Kumasi, the annual event brought together over four thousand cocoa farmers from the five cocoa-growing regions in Ghana namely Ashanti, Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Western South, and Central Regions.
Updating shareholders on the association’s performance for 2022, the Council Chairman of the Association, Ismail Pomasi argued the delay of money from COCOBOD since three months ago which is to enable them to pay the farmers.
For him, the 2023/2024 cocoa season commenced three months ago, however, the local Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) were yet to receive Seed Funds from COCOBOD to enable them to buy the Ghanaian cocoa farmers’ beans; this they described as a worry to the Association.
“We want the frequent delay in the release of the Seed Fund from the Ghana Cocoa Board to LBCs to be re-looked at because the challenge is collapsing the operations of indigenous LBCs therefore reducing supplies of certified cocoa volumes demanded by CAA’s customers” he stated.
Mr Pomasi made a passionate appeal to COCOBOD and the government to strengthen its Productivity Enhancement Programs and initiate a more concerted effort to combat galamsey activities in cocoa-growing regions in Ghana.
In its quest to improve premium payments to beneficiary members, he said the Association had introduced a Digital Payment System (MoMo) in 2021 to serve members devoid of inconveniences and offered them the opportunity to make bulk payments to members within the shortest possible time in a more transparent manner.
“We have further introduced the Living Income Sustainability Initiative for the economic development of members, their households, and communities and that’s the surest blueprint to cocoa sustainability. It is for this reason that CAA has partnered with one of the finest customers Alfred Ritter GmbH, a chocolate manufacturer of the Ritter Sport brand of chocolate products to undertake varied degrees of interventions ranging from easy transport system for moving cocoa beans from farm to the Society, farming equipment and inputs, access to potable drinking water and on-farm additional livelihoods to improve the living conditions of members at RITTER SPORT designated areas”.
“It is gratifying to note that since the inception of the initiative in 2022, a total of 22 tricycles, 30 units of SOLO mist blowers, 4 Mechanized Boreholes with washroom facilities, Agrochemical Inputs Shop and a 2 Snail Farming start-up packages have been commissioned and handed over to beneficiary groups in Bogoso, Tarkwa Aboso, Bonsa and Amantin operational areas all in Western South Cocoa Region of Ghana” he stated.
Sustainability Manager, Wilfred Apiung, on his part, stated that, despite the challenges, the Association was committed to improving the livelihoods and incomes of cocoa farmers through gender equity and sustainable cocoa production across the six cocoa growing regions.
“We are committed to improving the income levels of farmers to bring them above the living income benchmark. We look at some cost components that can reduce their burden and support them,” he said.
The Operations Manager for CAA, Roland Obosu in his remarks urged the farmers to let the increase in premium payment to motivate them to produce quality cocoa that would meet the standards, help increase local sourcing and contribute to the local economy.
“The increase in premium payment for you, our farmers, is part of the Association’s commitment towards developing thriving and resilient communities within our 39 operational areas,” he said.
Acting Executive Secretary for CAA, Patrick John Van Brakel mentioned that these initiatives were to ensure all the farmers conform to the newly introduced Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System and the new Rainforest Alliance Standard. This, he said, is to position the Association ahead of any International Standards.
The leaders of the farmer groups recounted that the sustainable farm training and support from Cocoa Abrabopa has been beneficial to their cocoa production.
They were grateful to CAA for introducing and teaching them alternative livelihoods.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
