Cassava farmers call of proposed demonstration

Kasoa (C/R), July 28, GNA - The aggrieved members of Ayensu Cassava Farmers Association (AGFA) on Monday agreed to call off their intended demonstration scheduled to come off on Friday, August 1, in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.

This followed a joint emergency meeting organised by the management of the Ayensu Starch Company Limited (ASCO) to discuss the farmers' problem at the company's headquarters at Kasoa.

Key players who participated in the four-hour meeting were, the management of ASCO, representatives from the headquarters of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), National Executives of ACFA, and representatives of the farmers.

In a five-point communiqu=E9 adopted after the meeting, all the parties who took part in the deliberations, agreed to continue to discuss the pricing of the produce of the farmers through GAWU, ACFA, and ASCO.

It was also agreed that, while negotiations were going on, farmers should continue to harvest their cassava, and that the farmers shall benefit if the current price of 150,000 cedis per tone of cassava which the producers have rejected, is revised upwards on the world market.

The communiqu=E9 further stated that all stakeholders in the issue have expressed their commitment in ensuring the success of the project. The accord was jointly endorsed by Mr Andrew E. Quayson, Managing Director of the Ayensu Starch Company, Mr Michael K.A. Sackey, Acting National Chairman of Ayensu Cassava Farmers Association, Mr Samuel Kangah of the General Agricultural Workers Union, and Mr Constant Adewu, ACFA representative.