Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has lent his support to the concept of land banks in Ghana.

The former President who chaired the maiden Green Ghana Lecture Series organized by Kuapa Kokoo and Millennium Promise Alliance (MPA) believes the creation of land banks will help in better utilization of lands in the country.

The idea was raised by Flt. Lt. Joseph Bampo Atiemo during the panel discussions and was endorsed by H.E John Agyekum Kufuor, the former President who suggested to the current President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo to take it up for implementation. He intimated that this presents a good opportunity for addressing land litigation issues and value for arable farmlands.

H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor also suggested that the nation moves away from her overreliance on cocoa and diversify into coffee or other cash crop production.

He recounted the state of Ghana’s cocoa sector when he took over as president of Ghana and recalled some of his achievements as far as cocoa is concerned.

The programme which was held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra last Wednesday, saw several dignitaries both local and international contributing in various ways towards bettering a lot of cocoa farmers in Ghana.

Praised Kuapa Kokoo President

Mr. Kufuor praised the President of the Kuapa Kokoo Co-operative Farmers & Marketing Union Ltd; Madam Fatima Ali for her hard work and impact on Ghana’s cocoa sector. “I think Madam Fatima Ali is the Yaa Asantewaa of the cocoa sector”, he said.

Awards

H.E. J. A. Kufuor, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Hon. Mrs. Frema Osei-Opare, Flt. Lt. Joseph Atiemo, Nana Frimpong Abebrese II, Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, Ms. Pauline Tiffen and Madam Fatima Ali all picked awards at the event for their great contributions to the development of Ghana’s cocoa sector.