A multi-purpose facility has been inaugurated at Mabang in the Ahafo Ano North District in the Ashanti Region to facilitate the Black Pod Disease Control Programme.

The project, which is jointly organised by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), the Ghana Cocoa Growing Reseach Association of the United Kingdom and the Government of the of the Netherlands, is
aimed at promoting research into the Black Pod disease to boost production in the coutry.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony on behalf of the Vice President, Mr. John Daramani Mahama, Mr. Anima Wilson, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, said cocoa was the backbone of the coutry’s economy and needed to be given proper attention to ensure increased production.

He attributed the increase in production levels which the coutry recorded over the last four years to good policies the government had initiated, including good producer prices to motivate the farmers.

She said the government would continue to support and provide incentives to cocoa farmers to motivate them to produce more for the country in order to recapture its position as the world’s leading producer of the crop.

Mrs. Wilson said the provision of the reseach centre would help boost cocoa productionlevels, and commended the country’s development partners for their support.

The Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Mr Tony Fofie, stressed the need to modernise cocoa production in the country.

Present at the ceremony included the Omanhene of Mabang Traditional Area, Nana Darko Montwi, and the omanhene of Tepa Traditional Area, Nana Adusei Atwerewa Ampem.

Source: Daily Graphic

PF