Mr Eric Opoku, the ranking Member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs’ Parliamentary Sub-Committee has called for a probe into the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme launched in 2018.
The Asunafo South Legislator argues that the programme, which identified diseased farms and cut down affected trees for replanting with disease-resistant cocoa varieties, among other measures, has failed because the country has lost some 500,000 hectares of cocoa farms to Swollen Shoot disease.
Speaking with the media, the Member of Parliament for the Asunafo South constituency in the Ahafo region stated that the programme must be investigated to unravel the cause of the significant loss.
He also alleged that the funds earmarked for the programme have been exhausted, leaving cocoa farmers in a dilemma.
According to him, he is reliably informed that the amount of money earmarked for the rehabilitation Programme has been exhausted and that the farms would soon be handed over to the farmers, even though some farms have just been cut down and not even planted, let alone being provided with plantain suckers.
Mr. Opoku further cast doubt on the assurances given by the Chief Executive officer of COCOBOD to ensure that the programme would be continued.
He disclosed that the picture being painted is very alarming and does not believe in the assurances that the CEO is offering, because they are in the field and know what is happening there.
