Cocoa stranded in Western Region because of bad roads

Goaso, (B/A) June 17, GNA - Cocoa and some foodstuffs have been locked-up in a number of farming communities in the Western Region following heavy rains which have rendered some roads impassable. In some of the communities, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited, the affected farmers have been compelled to carry their produce on their heads and walk miles to marketing centres.

The most affected districts are Bia-Juabeso, Akontombra, Wassa Amenfi West and Wassa Amenfi Central.

In the case of the Akontombra District, which has been cut-off from the region, the farmers sometimes throw away large quantities of cocoa beans which have gone bad.

At Sefwi Wiaso and Bibiani Anwiaso-Bekwai, farmers there have also been witnessing similar situations.

When the GNA visited the Sefwi Wiaso Market, where traders rely solely on those affected communities for food supply, prices of food items had increased tremendously.

Some of the traders told the GNA that the commercial drivers plying the roads that link the affected communities were charging exorbitant fares from traders who convey the foodstuff to marketing centres. "Some of the drivers refuse to ply some of the roads because of their bad nature," a trader said. When contacted, Mr. K.N. Akosah, Western Regional Director of Feeder Roads, confirmed that some roads linking cocoa growing areas in the region were deplorable.

Mr. Akosah alleged that some contractors, awarded contracts to work on some of the roads, abandoned their work and fled the area after receiving the mobilization funds. 17 June 10