He commended the government for the numerous interventions introduced into the cocoa sector but said that would be successful if the road network to farming communities were accessible.

Nana Darko who made the appeal during the inauguration ceremony of the Ayensuano Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Cooperative activities at the weekend called on COCOBOD to renovate the deplorable roads in the cocoa growing communities to minimise the plight of farmers and improve their lots.

 Mr Samuel Gyina Gyamfi, the Eastern Regional Manager of the Cocoa Health Extension Division enumerated various interventions the government was introducing into the cocoa sector to alleviate some of the challenges farmers faced.

He said the COCOBOD and for that matter the government had introduced mass pruning of cocoa farms and handling of pollination, which was aimed at increasing yield while financial compensation package was initiated for farmers who would allow their cocoa trees attacked by diseases to be cut down.

“Apart from the financial package, the affected farmers would be supplied with plantain suckers, economic trees and cocoa seedlings to rehabilitate their farms,” he said.

 Mr Emmanuel A. Opoku, the Executive Director, Cocoa Health Extension Division advised farmers to heed to best agricultural practices to enhance productivity and called on farmers to apply chemicals and fertilizers at required period of farming season to derive full benefit of yields.

More than 500 farmers drawn from Bepoase, Kraboa, Krabokese, Marfo, and Otoase attended the inauguration ceremony.

     Mr Frank Sarpong, Regional Director, Cooperative society of Ghana swore- in a seven-member executive to office made up of; Mr Joseph Konteye, President, Mr George Adu, Vice President, Mr Hotton Ntobea, Treasurer, Mr Nicholas Kwafo, Assistant Treasurer, Mr Kenneth Oppong, Secretary, Mr Awuku Samuel, Organiser and Ms Felicia Oppong, a member.

Messrs Sarpong and Michael Gyasi, the Suhum District Manager of the Cocoa Health Extension Division respectively advised the executives to be transparent and accountable to their members.

Mr Gyasi pointed out that the executives were not appointed to lord over the members, but to serve and promote the well-being of the farmers and his office was opened to welcome any healthy suggestion that would promote the growth of the cocoa sector in the two districts.