The Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II has offered himself as the promoter of Ghana’s cocoa as his contribution towards the campaign to inspire people to patronise cocoa products.
The Asantehene made the declaration when Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) Joseph Boahen Aidoo paid a courtesy call on him at his palace on Wednesday, as part of his working visit to the Ashanti Region.
He also announced the preparedness of ‘Asanteman’ to help promote cocoa farming as well as its use.
Disclosing his strategies to promote the use of cocoa locally, Mr Boahen Adioo said there is the need promote consumption of cocoa products locally to force price change in the world market.
Mr. Boahen Aidoo said he is determined to ensuring Cocobod record positive gains under his tenure despite challenges he inherited in terms of fall in price and also drop in quantity of cocoa produced.
He outlined numerous policies to turn the situation around, one which adopting artificial means of pollinating the cocoa flower which will improve production per hectare of land.
Otumfuor was full of praise for the Chief Executive for his knowledge in the cocoa industry and commended Cocobod for rolling out new policies that increase the yield of the crop which will see Ghana go beyond the targeted one million tonnes.
According to the Asantehene, a great number of properties in the Region were acquired from proceeds from the sale of cocoa by the farmers some years back and noted, a drop in the market price could negatively impact the farmers.
He was, therefore, pleased that Cocobod is putting measures in place to turn the trend.
Source: Myjoyonline.com