Boateng calls for modernization of cocoa loading

Koforidua, May 13, GNA- Daasebre (Professor Emeritus) Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, has called for the modernization of the loading of cocoa beans at the ports of the country to help reduce congestion at the ports.

He explained that, if the country claims it needs money and had to sell cocoa for the money, then the country need to establish the system whereby when the cocoa moves out of the farms to the ports, they are quickly transported to the buyers.

Daasebre Oti Boateng said the current methods of loading being used at the ports of the country were outmoded and slow and suggested the use of conveyer belts and appealed to the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) to consider financing such a project.

He was speaking at the New Juaben Omanhene's Palace when the members of the Board of Directors and the Management Staff of GCB paid a courtesy call on him on Friday.

The members of the GCB Board and the management staff were on a two-day performance review meeting at Koforidua and decided to pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene.

Daasebre Oti Boateng called on the Bank to support industries that had links with the agricultural production in the country . He said the saving culture of the country had fallen down because of the recent history of the country and called on the GCB to champion an education programme to educate the citizens of the importance of saving and to assure them of the safety and confidentiality of their savings.

In reaction to some issues raised by Daasebre Oti Boateng, the Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante said the bank wants to raise some substantial long-term capital from the stock exchange to be able to be a major player in financing of cocoa purchasing in the country and help reduce the dependence of the country on annual foreign support for internal purchasing of cocoa.

He said the bank also want to be a major financial player in supporting the oil industry in the country and also build a strong human resource base that could be compared to the best in the world.