Akufo-Addo promises to revamp cocoa industry

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has assured cocoa farmers that under his government the cocoa industry would be revamped to boost economic activities.

He said his government would give the necessary financial assistance to cocoa farmers to increase production to enable the country to earn more foreign exchange.

Nana Akufo-Addo made this known when he addressed the chiefs and people of Agona Duakwa, a cocoa growing community in the Central Region, to climax their annual Akwambo Festival.

The NPP presidential candidate was accompanied by Elizabeth Ohene, Alan Kyerematen, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Yaw Osafo Marfo, Joe Ghartey, Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Robert Kutin, and Nana Obiri Boahene during his “Rise and Build” tour of the region.

Nana Akufo-Addo said cocoa production, under former President John Agyekum Kufuor increased considerably due to his good policies, adding that, it had shrunk under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration due to mismanagement of the industry.

He said since the NPP lost power in 2008, cocoa production had reduced drastically due to inefficient supply of fertilisers, chemicals, logistics, regular payment of bonuses and incentives to farmers.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the NDC administration, led by President John Mahama, had done very little to ensure increase of cocoa production which was a major export earner of the country.

He said an NPP government would ensure that the needed assistance was given to cocoa farmers to reduce their suffering.

He said there would be an overhaul of the entire agricultural sector to enable it to play its expected role to restore the fragile economy.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the NPP policy of free Senior High School (SHS) was entirely different from President John Mahama’s progressively free SHS, which took effect this academic year.

He used the occasion to introduce James Owusu Barnes, Agona East parliamentary candidate of NPP, to the chiefs and people.

Nana Akufo-Addo appealed to them to vote massively for the NPP to help develop the area.

He donated GH¢5,000 to support the educational endowment fund of the town.