William Kwaku Serebour Prempeh, Ashanti Regional Manager of COCOBOD has urged cocoa farmers to help maintain the premium quality of Ghana’s cocoa beans by ensuring the proper fermentation and storage of their beans.
He said even though, Ghana was the second largest producer of cocoa in the world, the premium quality of its cocoa beans is recognised as the best globally.
There was, therefore, the need to maintain the qualitative production process to ensure that the cocoa industry continued to play its leading role as the backbone of the country’s economy.
Mr Prempeh addressed cocoa farmers at Mpasatia in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region on Thursday, as part of the activities marking this year’s chocolate day.
He was accompanied by a team from the cocoa clinic who offered free health screening for the farmers and other members of the public.
The program was organised by the COCOBOD in conjunction with the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Health Directorate and was aimed at showing love and commitment to the farmers by investing in their health and improving it for increased productivity.
“No cocoa farmers, no cocoa industry,” he stated and urged them to take good care of their health in order not to attract diseases.
He also warned them against the release of their farm lands to illegal miners who only gave them temporary payments but turned to permanently destroy the whole environment.
Dr. Chris Debre, a Senior Medical Manager of the cocoa clinic, who led the medical team, said the exercise was to interact with the farmers, assess their health status and provide the needed care and attention, as part of their social responsibility.
He said the program was being held in all the 16 cocoa districts in the region and urged them to practice the teachings and make early visitation to the nearest health facilities for early treatment when they experienced coughing symptoms.
Nii Koi Kotei, the Atwima Cocoa Officer, thanked the organizers of the program for holding it in the area and commended the farmers for their massive patronage.
Ahmed Agyare, the Municipal Public Health Officer sensitised the farmers about the causes, symptoms, implications and how to prevent TB disease and asked them to be vigilant.
He announced the availability of free screening, diagnosis and medication for TB at the Nkawie-Toase government hospital and other health centres in the area for victims.
Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:
