Cotton farmers commend govt

Tamale, Feb. 10, GNA - The Cotton Farmers' Association of Ghana has commended the government for its decision to re-open the Juapong Textiles Factory.

The association noted that the re-opening of the factory would not only "bring back smiles on the faces of the distressed workers" who had been laid off but would also create more income for cotton farmers, especially those in Northern Ghana whose produce would feed the factory. The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the Association in Tamale on Friday and signed by its Vice-Chairman, Osofo Patrick Adingtingah Apullah.

The Association assured the government of its efforts to increase cotton production to feed the factory.

The farmers appealed to the government to impose heavy taxes on finished imported wax prints and also limit the importation of lint cotton to encourage more farmers to undertake cotton cultivation. The association suggested the creation of a unit to be known as "The Ghana Cotton Organisation," which would oversee the smooth operations of the cotton industry.

The organisation, the association said, should be answerable to the Office of the President.

The statement noted that the creation of such an organisation would not only bring discipline and sanity into the cotton industry but would also enhance production.