President John Mahama has reiterated his commitment to develop cocoa producing areas in Ghana, in a bid to increase the country’s benefit from the cash crop.
He has revealed the provision of adequate road infrastructure for cocoa growing areas to facilitate the transfer of cocoa from the production areas to the manufacturing centres.
Although cocoa is the second highest foreign exchange earner for the country, many have been cited as the challenges facing most cocoa producing communities.
[contextly_sidebar id=”1t1yyOtDVyjF7leKTA4Y8t1beA22SRRH”]The major one has been the poor road infrastructure existing in these areas.
But speaking at a sod cutting ceremony to commence the construction of an 8 kilometer road network within the Sefwi Asawinso District of the Western region, President Mahama pledged to the people of the area of the government’s resolve to relief them of their plight.
“The road construction is very necessary because cocoa production and for that matter the Sefwi township as a cocoa growing area is an indispensable part of Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings,
“The Program is in five phases as a result, we implore that residents will bear with us if they do not see their towns as being part of the first two phases starting right away…we want you to be assured that the roads will be duly constructed by the end of the period” he said.
Six cocoa growing areas are expected to benefit from the cocoa roads program-an initiative of the Ghana Cocoa Board.
The program which spans between 2015 and 2020 is expected to cost the nation Gh¢3 billion.
Among the roads being rehabilitated under this phase in the Western Region are:
Reconstruction of Benchima Junction – Oseikojokrom Road
Reconstruction of Prestea – Samreboi Road
Reconstruction of Anyinabirem – Sui- Bodi Road
Reconstruction of Akontombra – Bodi – Juaboso Road
Reconstruction of Akontombra – Sefwi Wiawso Road
Reconstruction of Enchi – Dadieso Road
Reconstruction of Daboase – Atieku Road
Reconstruction of Juaboso – Dadieso Road
Reconstruction of Anto Dompem – Daboase Road
Reconstruction of Edwenase – Atobiase Road
Reconstruction of Sefwi Wiawso /Asawinso Town Roads
Reconstruction of Daboase Town Roads
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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citifmonline.com/Ghana