Cocoa research in danger

Greenview International Company Limited, a subsidiary of Dankote Group, Lagos, Nigeria, has defied a demand by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to relocate the research department of the Quality Control Division before constructing a cement bagging plant near the western gate of the Tema harbour.

Work at the site of the plant is busily going on with a kind of impunity that has ridiculed the very existence of the COCOBOD research department, which it shares common walls with.

Last year, when a seemingly hired crowd of less than 100 was assembled at the present site for the proposed project in the name of a public forum, (how public was the crowd?) COCOBOD protested vehemently against the siting of the cement bagging plant, if established, would render its research findings inaccurate.

This is aside of concerns raised by residents of neighbouring Tema Community Two of the dangers of health hazards due to the direction of the wind. Present at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) organised forum were representatives from Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM) and WACEM, two cement-producing factories in the country.

The seemingly ?rented? crowd, mainly made up of the unemployed, chanted ?we want jobs? at the time environmentalists took to the floor to explain the health implications, should the plant be sited there.

It was no surprise that some officials present declared openly that come what may, the plant would be established. While the genuine request by the COCOBOD has not been met, one is amazed, as the power of individuals or group seems to supercede that of national interest.

The draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) produced last exposed why the project siting cannot be conducive. Shockingly, Greenview has been able to make possible its dream of obtaining the zone earmarked for warehousing and container devanning (terminal) area from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

Could that have been made possible that the influence or power of the owner of Greenview, Aliko Dankote, and local representatives, Kwame Siriboe and Griffiths Randolph.

Reports have it that the situation has created a rift between the COCBOD and EPA/GPHA why the environment agency woefully neglect their appeal ? vital indeed ? and the authority abandoning its intention for the area for reasons that cannot be explained.

The EPA and GPHA are remaining tight-lipped over the issue but our information is that the COCOBOD has despatched to the authorities, correspondence to explain their position.