Cocoa farmers urged to insist on Akuafo Cheques

Nyinahin (Ash), Dec 12, GNA - Mr Maxwell Osei-Boadu, Nyinahin District manager of the Quality Control Division of the Ghana Cocoa Board, has advised cocoa farmers to insist on collecting cheques for the payment of their produce because it enhances their access to credit facilities. He was addressing a meeting of farmers and managers of the Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) at Nyinahin in the Atwima-Mponua district of Ashanti at the weekend.

The District Manager expressed regret that many farmers sought to avoid the cheque system even though the Ghana Cocoa Board law enjoined all cocoa dealers to effect payment with cheque. Mr Osei-Boadu also touched on the failure of farmers to properly dry the beans and said this was causing the problem of 'purple beans'. He therefore re-echoed the Division's advice to farmers to adhere strictly to proper fermentation process. Opanin Yaw Bronya, Nyinahin District Chief Farmer, advised the farmers to be wary of the activities of some quack marketing clerks who were going round with hanging scales to cheat them.