Mr. Peter Kwabena Ameyaw, the Adansi North District Chief Executive, has expressed concern about Licensed Cocoa Buying Companies (LCBCs) that are sabotaging government efforts at promoting the cocoa industry through undue delays in the payment of cocoa beans bought from the farmers.
He has therefore, advised cocoa farmers to look out for credible companies and do business with them.
The DCE, who had started touring communities in the district, expressed this concern at Ayokoa after receiving a complaint from one S.K. Amoah who owns a 30-hectare cocoa farm in the town.
"The government of the NPP is doing well with the spraying of our cocoa farms as well as the provision of hi-tech fertilizers which have led to high yields but the dried beans bought
by the purchasing clerks are not being paid for with the excuse that there is no money", Mr.
Amoah told the DCE.
Mr Ameyaw explained that the delays from
the purchasing clerks were not the making of the government and that is why, "I am appealing to
you to do business with the credible buying companies".
The DCE said the government's efforts at improving productivity in the cocoa industry and the introduction of the President's Special Initiatives (PSIs) were meant to reduce poverty
in the rural communities.
He therefore urged the youth not to wait
for funds from the Youth in Employment Programmes but should take quick advantage of the various initiatives especially that of the cassava and
the oil palm.
At Koben, the people appealed to the district assembly for a kindergarten block, extension of electricity to the area and the rehabilitation of the road from the town to New Akrofuom.
At Boko, the DCE commended the people for their communal spirit, which had led to the establishment of a primary school in the area.
He said efforts were underway to address the general lack of trained teachers in the district and that when that was done, Boko would not be left out.
Mr Ameyaw gave the assurance that the assembly was aware of the nature of the roads in the area and that the district feeder roads engineer had inspected them for further action.